A midlife woman's guide to a calm, joyful and healthy Christmas

As the Christmas season kicks off, many of us find ourselves juggling the excitement with extra stress, busy schedules, and holiday indulgences. For menopausal and midlife women, this time can bring unique challenges. The combination of holiday activities and hormonal shifts can make it harder to maintain energy, stick to our health goals, and keep stress in check. 

I think I am currently in denial, I absolutely love Christmas and enjoy having all my family together, planning the perfect gifts and cooking everyone a delicious lunch.  Plus my birthday and my daughter's birthday are only ten days before Christmas so I'm not just organising one celebration but three!  But it can all get a bit too much, the overwhelm is real and having been working hard towards my exercise and diet goals over the last few months, I don't want to lose that momentum!  Help is needed!

So I've put together some of my favourite practical tips to help you (and me) stay balanced, happy and healthy through the festive season.

This post is sponsored by Wassen.

Keep up with your self-care - and make sure you get a peaceful walk in!

Approach the festive menu with mindfulness

With tempting holiday foods and plenty of festive alcohol around, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or fall into old habits.

But you can enjoy yourself without feeling out of control:

Savour every bite - take time to enjoy your favourite treats without the guilt, choose what you love and eat slowly, but don't over indulge, a little of what you fancy is where the secret lies!

Balance the indulgences - if you are at a festive party or out for dinner, aim to increase your protein portion, make sure there is a good quantity of healthy fats, and some fibre to help stabilise blood sugar and curb the cravings and consider sharing a starter and a dessert or choose one or the other, not both!

Limit alcohol - choose simple swaps, there is no need to abstain completely (unless you want to) but drinking too much alcohol can disrupt sleep and leave you feeling tired and low.  Always alternate alcoholic drinks with water (sparkling or still) and why not try some new mocktails, and if you do choose alcohol then opt for lower calorie options like a gin and slimline tonic or a white wine spritzer!  This way you can still join in but not feel deprived.

Remember to take a break - read a book or look at a magazine!

Support your body with good nutrition and quality supplements

Yes holidays are a time of indulgence, but with today’s lower mineral content in foods, supplementing your diet can help fill in the nutritional gaps and maintain energy levels.

Boost your magnesium intake - with stress levels high and magnesium depletion common, taking a magnesium supplement can be especially beneficial. Magnesium helps fight tiredness and fatigue, boosting your energy levels. It also helps support the nervous system and emotional function, all essential for holiday wellness and menopausal women.

Add nutrient-dense foods - focus on leafy greens, nuts, seeds and whole grains, which are all rich in magnesium and other essential nutrients. These foods can help stabilise your mood and energy, so you’re better equipped to handle the demands of the season.

Magnesium-OK by Wassen is tailored to support hormonal health through every stage of life, from the teen years to menopause and beyond. Each daily tablet offers a thoughtful blend of magnesium to boost energy, Vitamin B6 to help balance hormones, and Zinc to support cognitive clarity. Plus, with added Vitamin D for bone strength, it’s designed to keep you feeling strong and balanced at every age, and means you can cope a bit better with the demands of a busy schedule!

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Magnesium at bedtime can really. help with relaxation!

Keep up with a gentle exercise routine

While it may be tempting to skip exercise during busy times, I know I am always very tempted, moving your body is one of the best ways to manage holiday stress and maintain energy.  Yes it really does work!

Make snackable workouts your go to - rather than a full workout, squeeze 15-20 minutes into your day, 2-3 times per week.  Try gentle stretching, walking, yoga or strength exercises like squats, lunges, press-ups and crunches.  A snackable workout will really boost your mood and help burn extra calories.

Include time for fun - go for a long walk in the countryside with your best friend, dance to your favourite 80s tunes while cooking, or get out and play in the snow (if we have some)!  None of these will feel like exercise but they will do so much good for your body and mind!

Manage stressful family dynamics

Navigating family relationships can be challenging at any time of year, but the holidays often bring extra togetherness and potential stress.

Set boundaries - be kind but clear about your needs, whether you need time to yourself, or want to limit conversations that might be triggering, a simple 'I'm going to step out for some air' or 'I'd love a moment to myself' will make all the difference to you without offending your loved ones.

Create a buffer with your husband (or partner) - if family stress is high, ask your husband to help manage interactions or plan a quick “check-in” with each other during the day to stay grounded.

Give yourself permission to say no - remember it is okay to miss events or politely decline invitations if they feel too much.  Saying no now means you're saying yes to self-care which benefits everyone in the long run.  I know what I can handle and I hate my diary being too full, one night on, one night off ... I love me time on the sofa doing absolutely nothing but watching my favourite TV shows!

Make time for friends and self-care

Christmas can be all-consuming, so prioritise time with friends and solo activities that make you feel joyful and grounded.

Plan a coffee or a short walk with a friend (or combine both) - time with friends can be incredibly restorative, giving you a break from the routine at home, and there is nothing quite as therapeutic as letting off steam over a good chat!

Do more of what you love - maybe it's reading, journalling, crafting or baking, make sure you carve out time to indulge in your favourite hobbies, they will reset and lift your mood!  For me, it's reading a good book, or making some healthy snacks like protein balls full of protein and good fats and minerals.

Add self-care in every day - take 5 minutes every day for some simple self-care like breathing exercises, a relaxing bath (add magnesium salts), or listening to music or a podcast.  The priority is to give yourself chance to pause and reconnect with yourself and step away from the Christmas overwhelm.

Get outside and focus on the small moments of joy!

Most importantly - stay positive, it is only one day!

While the Christmas break is special, it is only a small part of the year. Keeping perspective can help reduce the pressure to make everything “perfect.”

Focus on the small moments of joy - rather than trying to control everything (and everyone), look for the little moments of joy that naturally arise, a shared laugh, a delicious bit of food, or the peace and quiet of the early morning.  A sunrise, a blue sky, my dogs looking cute, keeping up with family traditions, laughing at Gavin & Stacey are all moments for me that make the busyness worthwhile.  Talking of Gavin & Stacey, who else is excited for the Christmas finale?

Remind yourself it's temporary - if stress does start to build, remind yourself that Christmas is only a season, and give yourself permission to let go of what isn't serving you and focus instead on creating the experiences that matter the most.  This year I have my sister, her husband and daughter and my 87 year old dad with us for Christmas Day, we may not have our mum here now to cook with us and fuss over the grandchildren, but we will reminisce about special family times in days gone by and have fun together making new memories!

Magnesium-OK is tailored to support hormonal health through every stage of life, from teens to menopause.

This Christmas, remember to prioritise your wellbeing, set boundaries, and keep things simple. By staying mindful, maintaining balance, and showing kindness to yourself, you can embrace the season with ease and joy.

Now how late can I leave my festive shopping without needing to panic!?  I already missed the Ocado delivery Christmas slots although I managed to sneak one in on the Saturday so not too dreadful!  But I am making sure my diary isn't too full and I'm looking forward to downtime and remembering my own advice.

Get 15% off Magnesium-OK from Wassen using my code FABNUTRITIONIST.

Love from
Michelle xx


​Disclaimer: this post is sponsored by Wassen.

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