5 TIPS TO HELP YOU SURVIVE THE FESTIVE PERIOD

. JAM PACKED DIARIES | CANAPES GALORE | FESTIVE FUN .

The festive period is one of my favourite times of year, from the beginning of November through to the first week of January it’s jam packed full of parties, festive food, shopping & a general feeling of excitement, warmth & happiness. I love the non stop invitations, to Christmas blog do’s, press events, work parties & of course festive events with my friends and family too. BUT, along with the constant nights out, gallons of mulled wine & copious amounts of canapés (and / or bratwursts) I also love the cosiness of nights in during the Christmas period … days spent wrapped up inside, with the fire on, old movies & Saturday night TV.

More than any other time of the year, the festive period becomes the absolute busiest, and finding a way to balance your schedule, your diet, your diary & your money is key to survival … So today I thought i’d share 5 little tips to help you survive the festive period.

. 5 TIPS TO HELP YOU SURVIVE THE FESTIVE PERIOD .

#1 FASHION

The festive period is the hardest on your wardrobe in my opinion, the volume of events you’ll be attending alone will demand multiple looks, new dresses & a constant flow of glamorous ensembles. Not only does this put pressure on us to constantly look fabulous, but it can also be super demanding on your bank account too. But fear not, the festive period can be played well, to save you spending all your pennies on clothes but also ensure you still look great at every event you attend.

Be clever this festive period, and pick classic items that can be styled and tailored in varying ways dependent on the occasion in hand. Think a classic leather skirt, which could be dressed up with a chic silk camisole & a pair of pumps for a festive party, or with a classic pair of heeled boots & billowy blouse for a dinner party look. Rather than invest in 20 dresses to wear, one to each event, think about investing in individual garments that can be styled multiple ways, don’t forget the opportunity to recycle last seasons dresses, that classic LBD or your favourite slip dress, and of course maximise the opportunity to simply upgrade your standard day time outfits for a nigh time look (a pop of lippy &a  slick of eyeliner, a change in hair style & a pair of heels can easily transform a look)!

Your festive wardrobe doesn’t have to cost a bomb, you just need to be savvy!

#2 FOOD

Balance is key at Christmas time. Along with the constant flow of delicious canapés, sugary Christmas drinks (Mulled wine, yes please) and the sheer volume of Christmas lunches and dinners that fill your diary (especially in the media industry), is of course the quest to still look fab in that Christmas dress. Balancing the treats of Christmas with the healthy diet you have the rest of the year is needed … but also super tricky.

There are a few simple ways to balance your diet this festive period, from adding a couple of extra gym classes to your week, or upping your greens intake on your ‘down days’, to indulging in the Christmas buffet with a little bit of tact … moderation is key but also understanding which canapés and treats are on the healthier end of the spectrum is also a great way of enjoying the festive fun without piling on the pounds. For me, i’ll never deny myself something I like, but trying to keep an overall balanced diet and lifestyle certainly helps.

#3 FRIENDS

At this time of year juggling your schedule can be a nightmare, and wanting to see all your friends before the festive break fully arrives adds another layer of complexity. The key to juggling your diary & ensuring you don’t miss out on any parties is to plan in advance … every year my friends and I have our Christmas Dinner on the last Saturday before Christmas, the Sunday is always spent with my family at our annual family friends party. Having set days each season, or simply booking dates in early is an essential factor in juggling your diary … especially when you have lots of different groups of friends.

#4 FUNDS

Christmas is the one time of the year where you can end up without a pay packet for nearly 6 weeks … with Christmas pay often coming early to help with all the Christmas expenditure (presents, travel, parties & food) it can end up putting a whole load of strain on your balance sheet whilst you wait for January pay. Being clever with your money is absolutely essential at this time of year, and there are tons of ways you can be a savvy shopper at Christmas time. From maximising pre Christmas sales for present shopping, to being savvy with online discounts & delivery codes, to simply budgeting a little more carefully than normal … the Christmas season doesn’t have to totally break your bank.

#5 FILMS. FUN. FESTIVITIES.

Obviously the festive period is full of fun and opportunities to celebrate, we all want to enjoy the parties, the Christmas markets, the annual ice skating affair & the Christmas atmosphere that fills the high streets year on year. But actually one of my most favourite things about the festive period, and a critical factor in ensuring you don’t totally and utterly wear yourself out is of course about taking some time out. Spending time at home is never better than it is at Christmas time, the Christmas decor just makes every home so pretty and cosy to be in, the constant streaming of all your favourite festive family films is enough to fill an entire day of movie marathons, and there’s never a better time to invite friends and family over and throw your own little festive evening in front of the fire, with a good bottle of red & some delicious home made canapés (my go to festive nibbles are pancetta wrapped asparagus, salmon and cucumber belini’s & honey roasted mini sausages – super simple & unbelievably tasty).  It’s as good as any night out in my opinion!

Surviving Christmas is all about balance … juggling a crazy diary of festive parties, with the much longed for down time that we wait all year for.

Christmas is one of my absolute favourite times of the year, if not my favourite, i’m already feeling super excited about the parties, the christmas markets, the decorations & of course the festive spirit that comes at this time of year.

Are you a Christmas lover? How do you survive the craziness of the festive period each year – i’d love to hear your tips on how to survive the festive period?