6 ways to boost your wellbeing in Christmas week (aka ‘Twixmas’)

The run-up to Christmas can be a whirlwind of planning, shopping, social get-togethers and pre-holiday work. So much so that once the big day is over, the week between Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve (aka Twixmas) can feel a bit empty. It can be tempting to lie on the sofa and continually eat mince pies (no judgement here), but after a while you’re likely to feel sluggish, bloated and emotionally flat.

While we enjoy the ‘do whatever you please’ attitude of Twixmas, what else can we do in that week to give our physical and mental health a much-needed boost?

Do stretching exercises when watching TV

There’s a lot of sitting down during Twixmas: sitting to eat, sitting to chat, sitting to watch films and Christmas specials on TV. Taking a few minutes to stretch your limbs not only helps relieve aches and pains, but also boosts circulation, keeps joints mobile and maintains flexibility. Stretch your back, legs, arms and hip flexors with these easy exercises chosen by Woman & Home magazine (many of which can be done without moving your eyes from the screen)

Simple stretches and classic yoga poses to keep you mobile | Woman & Home

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Feast on (surprisingly) nutritious food

Eating healthily, especially at Christmas, doesn’t mean chowing down on lettuce leaves instead of Quality Street. There are many Christmassy foods that have surprisingly good health benefits…

Nuts are a great Twixmas nibble as they contain fibre, antioxidants, plant protein and healthy fats. Eat yours covered with dark chocolate and you’re onto a winner as cocoa is a rich source of polyphenols such as flavanols which are good for your gut health. Dark chocolate also contains a surprising amount of fibre – a typical 100g bar (of 85% cocoa) contains around 15g of fibre.

Christmassy ingredients such as cinnamon and clove are packed with antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger is also great for relieving any nausea and bloating you may have after eating a variety of rich foods. And oranges and satsumas are a good source of vitamin C. Ingredients that just happen to be common in mulled wine…how useful!

Get outside for a walk

The traditional Boxing Day walk is a great excuse to get out of the house and blow away the cobwebs. At this time of year, we’re also in dire need of vitamin D (which our bodies make from sunlight) to support healthy bones and our immune system. Try and get outside early in the day to help re-set your body clock – exposure to early morning light helps suppress the sleep hormone melatonin, leaving you more energised for the day ahead.

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Have a good laugh

Comedies on the telly, Christmas cracker jokes, funny stories shared with the family…there are a lot of opportunities for a good ho-ho-ho during Twixmas. Not only does laughter boost your mood, but various studies have found it can also help relieve pain, improve mental clarity, work several muscle groups in the body, reduce anxiety and depression alongside a host of other perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms.

And if you’re not feeling it at first, faking laughter can actually lead to the real thing, particularly in a group: we’re 30 times more likely to laugh when others are laughing with us.

Pause and be still

With no Christmas ‘to do’ list to power through, Twixmas provides the perfect opportunity to be still. If you don’t have lingering commitments, use this week as a rare chance in the year to press pause and indulge in whatever you like. Either use the time to get stuck into your hobbies, read those books you’ve been meaning to start all year, catch-up on your favourite TV boxsets, podcasts and films, or simply enjoy doing absolutely nothing. Reflect on the year and set intentions for the new year ahead, but in the spirit of Twixmas: only if you want to, no pressure.

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