2012 has been a bumper year for the UK with plenty of events to make us feel proud to be a Brit, but what about 2013? Plusnet has developed a simple five-step guide that every family can follow to keep spirits high.
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1. Friends and family come first: Now it is the time of year for visiting long distance families, often making long journeys to visit grumpy and critical relatives. Why not do things differently this year and put your immediate family and friends first. Spend more time with them with a relaxed way, rather than a rushed attitude. And when it comes to planning activities, try to only do things that appeal to all family members by mixing up activities, take pride in the simpler things in life. We needn’t break the budget to have a good time together.
2. Set new goals: Why wait until New Year to make resolutions, why not set yourself three new targets now to achieve over the next year that will give you a good sense of personal pride. Aim for one small thing (e.g. keeping your post in an orderly place, sitting at the table when eating dinner), one medium (e.g. eat 10% less food, go for a hearty walk or run at least once per week) and one big achievement (e.g. quit smoking, save up for a holiday). Be reasonable but challenging, it makes you feel pride in what you do.
3. Laugh: Think about who or what makes you laugh the most, and make sure you spend more time doing those things with the people who entertain you the most; laughter does wonders for keeping spirits high.
4. Be bold: Say no to things that make you fundamentally unhappy. Take pride in being who you really are. Develop a ‘have-a-go’ attitude especially when it comes to trying new things. And give yourself permission to say how you feel, without being rude of course.
5. Be part of your community: Instead of immersing yourself in the lives of people in soaps, immerse yourself in your own community…whether it’s a zumba class, spinning, badminton or a photography group. Alternatively one or two hours working on a community project a week will lift your spirits, expose you to new ideas and new people, boosting your energy levels along the way.
For more information, visit www.plus.net
Share your stress-busting tips with us in the comments below or tweet us @FemaleFirst_UK
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Shabana Adam @Shabs_A