Christmas is coming and the goose is getting…drunk, tired, frazzled and stressed. Ok, the goose isn’t so much, but you definitely are. Work do’s, Christmas catch-ups, mince pies and a glass of fizz at every corner, is it just us or are Christmas parties doubling in numbers every year? Of course we love it but four hours sleep a night and a staple diet of Quality Street and prosecco can take its toll. Before you panic and start saying no to your invites (apart from that one from your creepy neighbour who you’re not sure has left his flat in 2017, definitely take a rain check on that one) try a little bit of Christmas pre-tox, and you’ll sail through party season without so much as a split end.
By Jo Hoare
-
1 Sort out your s**t
That missing lightbulb in the bathroom, the overflowing laundry bin, the bills you need to pay…Before party season kicks in get your life admin as sorted as possible, that way you won’t descend into too much chaos when you go out six nights in a row. Well you might, but at least you’ll be doing it in clean tights.
-
2 Chop, chop
Waves for Wednesday’s cocktails, sleek and straight for Thursday’s office lunch, backcombed and bouffant for Friday’s girls Xmas night out…your poor hair takes nearly as much of a battering as your liver during party season. Help it stay healthy with a good trim to get rid of any vulnerable ends, diarise it just before your first night out and combine it with a salon blow-dry to give you double party benefits.
-
3 Exercise the excess
Strict gym regimes go out of the fake snow encrusted window at Christmas time because HIIT and a hangover, rather like the red wine and Negroni combo you chose last night, absolutely do not mix. Instead pick something a bit gentler that you can fit around the limited free time you have. Try a YouTube class, we love Yoga With Adriene who has practices for everything from overeating to insomnia.
-
4 Start afresh
How many nights over the next few weeks do you think you might fall asleep in your makeup? Even the most diligent of skincare obsessives fall prey to panda eyes and lipstick pillow this time of year. Give your face a fighting chance by starting with the best canvas possible by booking yourself in for a facial, deep cleansing if you’re prone to breakouts, nourishing if you’re dry, then the odd night sleeping in slap won’t take too much toll.
-
5 Helping hand
Before you add all those festive toxins get rid of some of those everyday ones with a lymphatic massage. A massage focusing on your lymphatic system helps your body’s internal filtration system aka your natural cleansing process which in turn kick starts your immune system, can increase energy, get rid of puffiness and even help with mood and anxiety.
-
6 Water, water everywhere
Yes it’s boring but come December every single thing you do conspires to rob your body of water- the central heating, the alcohol, the salty foods, the sweating under your big winter coat trying to find the last LOL Big Surprise (the sellout Christmas toy of 2017 apparently) so start off party season fully topped up, and try a water drinking app like Daily Water or iDrated to remind you.
-
7 Failure to prepare is preparing to fail
Even if you usually scoff at the people that batch cook their meals, divide them up into Tupperware and put them on Instagram it does make sense at this busy time of year to have something healthy and easy that gets some much-needed vitamins in your body. Roast up a huge tray of vegetables for the week and then just add chicken, salmon or whatever you feel like for a meal in seconds.
-
8 Mind over matter
Before your brain gets consumed with lists, presents and Christmas madness give it a bit of time to breathe with a holistic treatment. Try reiki to combat stress and give you energy, this Japanese practice works like a no touch massage, with the therapist focussing on your bodies energy point. Expect to leave relaxed but revitalised.