As we enter the festive season, Lifeline South Coast is urging people to look after themselves this Christmas and has released some valuable tips to help you do so.

 Grahame Gould, Executive Director of Lifeline South Coast says Christmas is often a very busy and stressful time of year but there are some simple ways to help manage that stress. 

“For some people, Christmas can be a wonderfully enjoyable and relaxing time. Others find it just plain stressful!” he said.

“We want everyone to enjoy their Christmas so have put together some tips to help you reduce the stress.”

·         Your Christmas does not have to be perfect to be enjoyable. It is easy to set unrealistically high standards for yourself. Ask yourself “does it really matter if the roast is not done the way my mother did it?”

·         Don’t think you have to enjoy it all the time. Give yourself permission to feel sad at some stage during Christmas. Sometimes Christmas can remind us that a special person is no longer with us, and its normal to feel sad about this.

·         Try not to feel over responsible for other people’s enjoyment. Remember, you can only do so much, and, if you think others are not enjoying Christmas as much as they could, that’s their responsibility not yours.

·         Don’t feel as though you have to get on with everyone. Sometimes people have hurt us in the past or relationships have broken down so it’s unrealistic that you would get on with them at Christmas.

·         Take some time for yourself. Often we are so worried about everyone else that we forget to take a moment for ourselves. Do something YOU enjoy this Christmas.

Remember if the festive season becomes too stressful or difficult to manage, call Lifeline’s 24 hour telephone counselling service on 13 11 14 to talk to someone who can help. Lifeline’s 24 hour counselling line will be available during Christmas and New Year. You can talk about any issue, no matter how big or small: relationships, loneliness, life decisions, grief, addiction, abuse, stress and depression.

Contact: Grahame Gould 0409 912 391

Phone: 4228 1311 or 0409 912 391