Wellbeing Wednesdays: 12-day wellbeing advent calendar

It is now December, and the Christmas festivities have officially begun. Whilst Christmas is an exciting time of year, for many, it can also come with stress and difficulty. According to Mind, one in ten people feel unable to cope at this time of year. Amongst the busy nature of this Christmas lead-up, it is important to carve out time for your own wellbeing. Advent calendars are a famous way of counting down to Christmas, so why not incorporate this into your wellbeing routines? Keep reading to find a 12-day wellbeing advent calendar to keep calm this Christmas whilst also making wellbeing festive.

1. Try a festive hot drink
Whether it be a gingerbread latte or a Terry’s hot chocolate, this is a perfect way to keep warm, enjoy some downtime, and try something new and festive. You can enjoy it alone or catch up with a friend and both options make for a great way to relax over the festive period.

2. Read a Christmas-themed book
Reading is a great activity to switch off and calm the mind. Why not read a festive book as part of your bedtime routine? Many bookstores will now have their Christmas range on display so take a look. I would recommend Laurie Gilmore’s The Christmas Tree Farm.

3. Christmas PJs
There’s something about pyjamas that boosts your overall mood. Whether you have some at the back of your drawers or need an excuse to go out and buy a new pair, putting on some festive pyjamas will no doubt make you feel happier.

Christmas isn’t just about receiving gifts; it’s a great time to give back too

4. Christmas joke
Humour is proven to reduce stress hormones. This makes telling or hearing a joke an excellent way to boost overall wellbeing. Find a Christmas-themed joke and share it with your friends and family.

5. Contact a long-distance friend or family member and check-in
At this time of year especially, it is important to check in on those around us, or indeed, those who live away from us. For your own wellbeing and theirs, check in with a friend by calling them and catching up on plans for the Christmas period and any worries about it.

6. Support a charity this Christmas
Christmas isn’t just about receiving gifts; it’s a great time to give back too. This keeps us grounded and also makes us feel good about helping others. This could be giving any unwanted clothes to a charity shop, donating as little as £5 to your chosen charity, or giving presents to those less fortunate. A great recommendation is to visit a Dunelm store which have Christmas trees with tags on for children who have asked for presents. You pick a tag and then find the present and give it back to the store ready to be delivered to the child.

7. Looking for signs of winter on a walk
Stepping outside and appreciating the signs of winter is another benefit to your health. Wrap up warm and enjoy taking time to notice the changing weather and scenes around you.

8. Christmas lights evening
One of my favourite things about Christmas is seeing the streets filled with light. Your town may have its own Christmas lights displayed at night, or you could even take a walk looking at people’s own Christmas decorations and lights. It is bound to fill you with joy this winter.

9. Christmas crafting
Get creative and find a new Christmas craft to try. You could make paper chains out of festive wrapping paper to decorate your room, paint a winter scene, or crochet a stocking. If you’ve run out of ideas, I would recommend hobbycraft’s Christmas craft website page.

10. Bake something Christmassy
Baking is a great way to spend time and keep warm. I love making gingerbread cookies and sharing them with family and friends over Christmas.

By treating yourself, you can boost your happiness even if it is something small

11. Write down three things that make you happy at this time of year
Gratitude is one of the best wellbeing activities and requires minimal effort. Especially at this time of year, it is important to remember what we are grateful for.

12. Buy yourself a Christmas gift
Last, but by no means least, treat yourself to a present this Christmas. With present buying for friends and family, it is easy to forget yourself and feel overwhelmed. By treating yourself, you can boost your happiness even if it is something small.

So, there we have it, the ultimate 12-day Christmas wellbeing advent calendar. Trying one of these activities every couple of days is a great lead-up to Christmas and keeps you grounded and rested. Take care of yourselves and enjoy this festive period. A happy December to you all!