3 Powerful & Actionable Steps to help you tackle the Stressful Christmas Period!

STEP 1 – PUT YOUR WORRIES AWAY… LITERALLY!

(The Worry Box)

What are you worried about this Christmas?

What is causing you stress or stopping you from feeling excited, joyful, energised or calm about the holidays?

1. Grab yourself a jar, box, container, or something which you can use for your “Worry Box”. Also grab a piece of paper and a pen.
2. Give yourself 2 minutes and jot down (in dot points) anything you are worried or concerned about going into these holidays. Don’t overthink it, just get it out! Also, be sure to leave a decent space between each worry!
3. Tear off and separate each worry and put them ALL in the worry box.
4. Pick your first worry from the box ask yourself one of 2 things –
   • Is this worry something you can control? If the answer’s NO, throw it out!…and pick another worry.
   • Can you take action on this? If the answer is NO, because you can’t right now – put it back in the box for a later date. If the answer is YES – let’s figure out how you can find the confidence and a sense of control to help you move forward! 

Your list may include a few of the following:

• How am I going to budget and afford presents this year?
• Who do I buy for?
• How am I going to find the time to Christmas shop?
• Will I be able to support my family if I take time off work?
• What will my boss think of me if I take time off work?
• What if we go into lockdown again and I get stuck?   
• What if i can’t see family or friends due to Covid and travelling restrictions?
• I’m stressed about reconnecting with certain members of my family.
• How will I keep the kids entertained? I’m too tired to think.
• What will my boyfriend think of me when we go to the beach? I’ve put on 10kgs!
• I have anxiety around socialising. What if I have a panic attack at my work Xmas party!

STEP 2 – CHANGE WORRY TO WONDER!

(The ESR Technique)

You’ve got your remaining worries in front of you still…right?

Now, pick only ONE worry to focus on first.

How do you feel?

Do you tense up? Are your shoulders high? Does your breathing change? Do you feel slightly uncomfortable?

This is your body’s physiological response to thought. This is proof of how our thoughts and mindset can change our body’s chemistry and physiology causing illness or feelings of dis-ease.

Kinesiology teaches us that it’s not enough to work on the mind or body alone. In order to feel relief, a sense of ease and to achieve your health and wellness goals long term, it’s important to change your thought processes and remove/shift stress from the body.

Here is one of way of doing it…

Place one hand lightly across your forehead and take a few deep breathes (see image below).

This is the EMOTIONAL STRESS RELEASE (ESR) technique, which is a simple, highly effective Kinesiology tool designed to help shift and change your perspective without the support of another person or therapist.

The ESR technique activates special reflexes which bring more blood to the frontal lobes of the brain. Front brain thinking is creative, with new options and new alternatives. When we use the front brain, we tend to find new ways of looking at old problems, new possibilities and alternative solutions. By placing a hand across the forehead, we allow the mind to open itself to an adaptive rather than protective response. This can help us to rationalise and think clearly in the moment instead of reacting to past stress/trauma.

Whilst applying the ESR technique – close your eyes and imagine (think, sense, feel) someone you respect and idolise; maybe it’s someone who loves you, respects you or knows you well.

What would they say to you? What piece of advice would they give you?

If you struggle with the thought of another person, ask yourself, what can I do or how can I see the situation differently.

Notice again how your body feels as you sort through these different ideas.

Is there an “uh ha” moment? Does this thought make you feel calm and relaxed? Do you feel a sense of lightness or ease, or is it hope?… like yeah, I could get around that idea!

THIS IS YOUR BODY’S WAY OF SAYING YES!

Trust this response and write this new perspective or action down on the opposite side of the piece of paper.  

If you feel this worry has been handled and you don’t need to think about it again, THROW IT OUT. If you aren’t sure, pop it back in the box for tomorrow!

I suggest you review your Worry Box once a day… though there is ONE rule.

You are only allowed to look through this box for ½ an hour a day…. meaning that’s how long you can worry about the Christmas period 😉 Remember worrying or thinking doesn’t solve anything so if you CAN NOT take action right now, KEEP YOUR WORRIES IN THE BOX!

In a Kinesiology session, a practitioner uses the tool of ‘muscle testing’ to assess your current state of being. In this case, YOU are now the practitioner and will be assessing your own energy using the self leaning test – a simple, easy and fun way to assess whether something ‘aligns’ or is beneficial for you. Note – this is just an indication and not used to self-diagnose or treat. Please see a Kinesiology practitioner for a more in-depth evaluation!

Lets get into it!

If your body said YES to one of your questions – SET THE INTENTION!

Write down the intention or say it out loud. I recommend having this intention somewhere where you can see it on a daily basis such as your fridge, phone or in the bathroom!

Your intention may look something like this:

“This Christmas, I dedicate 1 hour every day to relax, rejuvenate and recharge my batteries so I can do more with my kids.”

“These holidays, I choose to laugh more often, connect with my friends and to be more spontaneous.”

“These holidays, I make the conscious effort to speak kindly to myself, put boundaries in place where I need to and appreciate the small things.”