Looking After Your Physical Health at Christmastime

Especially if You Live with a Chronic Medical Condition

Christmas is often busy, indulgent and tiring. 

For people living with chronic medical conditions, like arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, respiratory illness, autoimmune conditions or chronic pain, the festive season can place extra strain on the body. 

Cold weather, disrupted routines and social pressure can all make symptoms harder to manage.

With a little planning and kindness towards yourself, it is possible to enjoy Christmastime while still protecting your physical health.

Stick to the Basics (Even When Routines Slip)

Christmas rarely follows a normal routine, but some fundamentals are worth protecting:

Take medication as prescribed, even on busy days. Make sure you have enough prescription medications to take you through the Christmas and New Year season  

Eat regularly, rather than skipping meals and overindulging later

Stay hydrated, especially if alcohol or rich food is involved

Prioritise sleep, even if that means leaving events early

If you use alarms, pill organisers or written schedules, keep using them throughout the festive period.

Plan Ahead for Your Condition

A little forward planning can prevent unnecessary flare-ups:

Ensure you have enough medication to cover bank holidays and pharmacy closures

Keep spares of essentials such as inhalers, glucose supplies, mobility aids or pain relief

If travelling, pack medications in your hand luggage and keep a list of prescriptions with you

Consider whether you’ll need extra rest days built into your plans

Planning is not pessimism – it’s self-protection.

Be Sensible with Food and Drink (Without Deprivation)

Christmas food is part of the season, but moderation matters – particularly for conditions affected by sugar, salt, fat or alcohol.

Helpful approaches include:

Enjoying treats mindfully, rather than constantly grazing

Balancing rich meals with lighter options later in the day

Watching portion sizes rather than banning foods entirely

Alternating alcohol with soft drinks, or choosing alcohol-free options

You don’t need to explain your choices. Protecting your health is reason enough.

Keep Gently Moving

Cold weather and busy schedules can reduce activity, which may worsen stiffness, pain and circulation issues.

You don’t need intense exercise. Instead, aim for:

Short walks when weather allows

Gentle stretching at home

Chair-based or low-impact exercises

Regular movement breaks if sitting for long periods

Even small amounts of movement can help manage symptoms and boost energy levels.

Manage Fatigue and Pain Honestly

Pushing through pain or exhaustion “because it’s Christmas” often leads to setbacks later.

Give yourself permission to:

Take naps or quiet breaks

Use mobility aids without embarrassment

Pace activities over several days rather than one long push

Leave gatherings early if needed

Listening to your body is not spoiling the occasion – it’s respecting it.

Stay Warm and Prevent Winter Illness

Cold weather can aggravate many chronic conditions. Layer up, keep your home warm where possible, and take extra care to avoid infections.

Simple steps include:

Wearing thermal layers indoors if needed

Keeping vaccinations up to date where appropriate

Washing hands regularly

Avoiding close contact with others if they are unwell

Catching a winter illness can have a much greater impact if you already live with a long-term condition.

Advocate for Yourself

You are not obliged to meet other people’s expectations at the expense of your health. Clear, calm communication can help others understand your needs.

It’s okay to say:

“I can come, but only for a short time”

“I need to rest this afternoon”

“I’m managing my condition and need to be careful”

The people who care about you will understand – and if they don’t, your health still comes first.

Looking after your physical health at Christmastime isn’t about missing out. It’s about making choices that allow you to enjoy the season without paying for it afterwards

Christmas does not need to be exhausting, painful or punishing to be meaningful. If you finish the festive period feeling stable, rested and cared for, you’ve done it right

Mental Health at Christmas: It’s OK If You’re Not Feeling Festive

Christmas is often presented as a season of joy, togetherness and goodwill.

 Adverts glow with perfect families, overflowing tables and endless cheer. 

Yet for many people, Christmas can be one of the most emotionally difficult times of the year. 

If you’re finding the season overwhelming, lonely or exhausting, you are far from alone.

Why Christmas Can Be Hard on Mental Health

The pressure to feel happy can be intense. There’s an unspoken expectation that Christmas should be magical, and when reality doesn’t match that ideal, it can leave people feeling inadequate or isolated.

Common challenges include:

Loneliness and isolation, particularly for those who live alone, are estranged from family, or have recently lost someone

Grief, which can feel sharper during traditions and anniversaries

Financial stress, as costs rise at a time when budgets are already stretched

Family tensions, with forced togetherness reopening old wounds

Exhaustion and burnout, from planning, hosting, travelling and social obligations

For people already living with anxiety, depression or other mental health conditions, Christmas can amplify existing struggles.

You Are Not Failing Christmas

One of the most important things to remember is this: struggling at Christmas does not mean you are doing it wrong. Christmas is not a test of your worth, your relationships or your success. It’s simply a date on the calendar, and your mental health matters more than any tradition.

It’s okay if:

You don’t feel festive

You simplify or skip traditions

Your Christmas looks different to everyone else’s

You need quiet rather than company

Gentle Ways to Protect Your Wellbeing

You don’t need to transform your Christmas to protect your mental health. Small, kind choices can make a big difference.

Lower expectations

Give yourself permission to do less. Not every card needs sending, not every event needs attending, and not every meal needs to be perfect.

Set boundaries

It’s okay to say no. Whether it’s limiting time with difficult relatives or declining social invitations, boundaries are a form of self-care, not selfishness.

Create your own version of Christmas

Your Christmas can be a walk, a film, a simple meal, or a quiet day with a book. Meaning doesn’t have to look traditional.

Stay connected in small ways

A message, a phone call, or a short visit can help maintain connection without overwhelming you.

Look after your body

Regular meals, hydration, fresh air and rest all support mental health, especially during darker winter days.

If You’re Struggling Right Now

If Christmas is bringing up feelings you’re finding hard to cope with, support is available. Speaking to someone you trust can be a powerful first step. If things feel heavier, professional help can make a real difference.

In the UK, organisations like Samaritans, Mind, and NHS 111 can offer support and guidance. Reaching out is not a sign of weakness – it’s an act of strength.

Christmas doesn’t have to be loud, busy or perfect to be meaningful. It can be quiet. It can be gentle. It can simply be about getting through.

If all you do this Christmas is take care of yourself, that is more than enough.

504 Families Thrown a Lifeline as Local Volunteers Rally Against Hunger

In a powerful display of community resilience amidst the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, the Mehiel Foundation has successfully delivered vital grocery supplies, toy vouchers and hygiene products to 504 underprivileged families across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

Under the banner of the foundation's flagship "Sacks of Hope" initiative, an army of over 50 local volunteers mobilised this week, turning compassion into action. 

Working in unison, they packed, sorted, and delivered hundreds of sacks filled with essential groceries and treats, ensuring that struggling families in the region do not have to face empty cupboards this Christmas. 

Since 2019, the Mehiel Foundation has been a quiet force for good, supporting families who are often suffering in silence. However, organisers note that the need has never been greater than it is today.

A Community United Against Hardship

The logistical feat involved a coordinated effort with 32 local partners, including schools, churches, and community organisations. These partners helped identify those most in need, ensuring the aid reached the most vulnerable households in the community, many of whom are working families forced to choose between heating and eating.

"What we saw today was the very best of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire," says Lawrence Patrick, Founder of the Mehiel Foundation. "When you hand a family a Sack of Hope, you aren't just giving them pasta, rice, or tinned goods. You are telling them that they are seen, that they are valued, and that their community has not forgotten them. Since 2019, we have watched the need grow, but we have also watched the heart of our community grow to meet it."

More Than Just Groceries

The "Sacks of Hope" contain high-quality, non-perishable food staples designed to alleviate the grocery bill burden for several weeks. But for the volunteers and recipients, the sacks represent something far more intangible: dignity.

One volunteer, who spent the day packing sacks, remarked:

"It’s easy to feel helpless when reading the news, but being here with 50 other people, all working towards one goal, is electrifying. We aren't just packing bags; we are packing kindness. Knowing these sacks are going to 32 different schools and organisations means we are reaching deep into the community to help neighbours we might see every day."

FACTFILE:

Founded with a mission to alleviate poverty and social injustice, the Mehiel Foundation has been supporting underprivileged communities in the UK and abroad since 2019. Through food distribution, educational support, and community development, the foundation strives to bring hope to the most vulnerable.

https://www.mehiel.org

Had Your Flu Jab but Still Feel Ill? Why Flu-Like Symptoms Can Appear Weeks Later at Christmas

Had the flu vaccine but still feel unwell weeks later? Here’s why flu-like symptoms can happen at Christmas, and what to do next.

Had Your Flu Jab but Still Feel Ill? Why It Can Still Happen at Christmas

You’ve done the sensible thing.

You booked your flu vaccination, rolled up your sleeve, and ticked off an important pre-Christmas health task.

So why, several weeks later, are you sitting there with a headache, sore throat, aching limbs, and that heavy, drained feeling that makes even putting the kettle on feel like a chore?

It’s a surprisingly common question at this time of year, and thankfully, there are some reassuring answers.

First Things First: The Flu Vaccine Can’t Give You Flu

One of the biggest myths that resurfaces every winter is the idea that the flu jab causes flu.

It doesn’t.

The standard flu vaccine used in the UK contains inactivated virus, meaning it cannot cause influenza. Feeling unwell weeks later is not the vaccine “kicking in” or “wearing off”.

Timing Is Everything

After vaccination, your immune system needs time to build protection. This usually takes around 10 to 14 days.

If you were exposed to a virus:

shortly before your jab

during that two-week window

or later in the season when virus levels are high

you can still become ill, even though you’ve been vaccinated.

It May Not Be Flu at All

Christmas is peak season for many circulating viruses, not just influenza.

Symptoms such as:

headache

sore throat

fatigue and general malaise

mild fever or chills

can be caused by:

common cold viruses

RSV

adenoviruses

COVID-19

Many of these illnesses feel very similar to flu, especially in the early stages.

The Flu Jab Isn’t a Magic Shield. But It Still Matters

Even in a good year, the flu vaccine isn’t 100% effective. What it does do extremely well is reduce:

the severity of illness

the risk of complications

hospital admissions

recovery time

So if you do catch flu after vaccination, it’s usually milder and shorter-lived than it would have been otherwise, something especially important during the already demanding Christmas period.

Why Christmas Makes It Worse

Let’s be honest, December is not kind to our immune systems.

Between:

busy schedules

disrupted sleep

cold weather

crowded shops and public transport

rich food and extra alcohol

emotional stress and financial pressure

our bodies are often running on empty just when viruses are at their most active.

That’s why even a relatively mild infection can feel disproportionately draining at Christmas.

What You Can Do If You’re Feeling Ill Now

If your symptoms are manageable, supportive care is usually enough:

Rest properly Christmas can wait

Drink plenty of fluids, especially warm drinks

Paracetamol or ibuprofen for aches and headaches (if suitable for you)

Lozenges or honey for a sore throat

Take a COVID test if you have access to one

Avoid pushing through “for the sake of Christmas” — that often prolongs recovery.

When to Seek Medical Advice

Contact your GP or NHS 111 if:

symptoms last longer than 7–10 days

you develop a high or persistent fever

you feel short of breath or dizzy

fatigue becomes severe or worsening

you’re in a higher-risk group (long-term illness, weakened immune system, over 65)

Trust your instincts, you’re not wasting anyone’s time.

A Final Reassuring Thought

If you’re feeling unwell after doing everything “right”, it can feel frustrating, especially when Christmas plans are involved.

But having the flu vaccination still means you’ve:

protected yourself from severe illness

reduced the risk to others

given your immune system a head start

That’s not failure, that’s sensible seasonal self-care.

At That’s Christmas 365, we believe Christmas should be about kindness, including being kind to your own body when it needs rest.

If that means a quieter day, simpler plans, or an early night with a mug of tea, then that’s perfectly okay.

Whatever Happened to Christmas? Why “Holiday Season” Feels Wrong in the UK

Why is Christmas increasingly being called the “holiday season” in the UK? A thoughtful look at culture, language and why Christmas still matters.

Here at That’s Christmas 365, we celebrate Christmas all year round, not just as a religious festival, but as a deeply rooted part of British culture, community life, and shared tradition. 

Which is why a growing trend has caught our attention: the quiet replacement of Christmas with the far vaguer phrase holiday season.

Walk through a British high street in December and you will still see Christmas trees, crackers, baubles and mince pies. 

Yet increasingly, the words around them feel oddly non-committal. Holiday offers. Seasonal greetings. Festive period savings.

So what’s going on, and why does it feel so jarring in a UK context?

Christmas Is More Than a Date in the Diary

In the UK, Christmas is not just a single day or a narrow religious observance. It shapes our national calendar. Schools break up for Christmas. Parliament adjourns for Christmas. Entire industries, from transport to broadcasting, work around Christmas as a fixed cultural anchor point.

Even for those who don't celebrate Christmas personally or religiously, it remains a shared reference. It is woven into family routines, public life, and the national rhythm of winter.

Calling all of this the holiday season feels oddly detached, as though something with meaning has been replaced by something generic.

Inclusion Doesn’t Have to Mean Disappearance

Britain is proudly diverse, and many people celebrate festivals other than Christmas during the winter months. That diversity is a strength, and one that has long been recognised without difficulty.

We already acknowledge Diwali, Hanukkah, Eid and other celebrations openly and respectfully, without renaming them or blending them into a single catch-all phrase. Inclusion has never required the removal of Christmas from our vocabulary.

There is a difference between making space for everyone and quietly stepping away from naming Christmas at all.

A Marketing Import That Doesn’t Quite Fit

The phrase holiday season feels increasingly imported, rather than home-grown. It is far more common in North American usage, where “holiday” covers a range of celebrations clustered together.

In the UK, however, we traditionally talk about holidays in the summer, and Christmas in December. When global brands adopt one-size-fits-all language, it can flatten cultural differences and leave British traditions feeling oddly diluted.

Why Language Matters at Christmas

Language shapes how we experience tradition. When Christmas becomes a “seasonal event” rather than Christmas itself, it loses some of its character and warmth.

Christmas markets become winter markets. Christmas concerts become festive showcases. Christmas messages become generic greetings.

Each change is small, but together they create a sense that something familiar is being quietly nudged aside rather than openly discussed.

Confidence in Our Traditions

Questioning this shift is not about insisting everyone must celebrate Christmas in the same way. It is about being confident enough in our culture to name it honestly.

Christmas has always existed alongside other traditions. It has never needed to be hidden, softened, or rebranded to make room for others.

At That’s Christmas 365, we believe it is possible, and healthy, to celebrate Christmas openly while respecting the many different ways people mark the winter season.

When We Mean Christmas, Let’s Say Christmas!

Not everything needs to be endlessly reworded or rebranded. When we are talking about Christmas, perhaps the simplest and most respectful approach is to call it exactly that.

Christmas is not exclusionary. It is part of Britain’s cultural fabric.

And for many people across the UK, whether they celebrate quietly, enthusiastically, traditionally, or simply enjoy the atmosphere, Christmas is still Christmas.

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Yuletide Old Fashioned (Woodford Reserve Edition)

A classic Old Fashioned dressed for Christmas, with gentle spice, citrus warmth and a whisper of winter fruit, that never overpowers the bourbon.

Ingredients

60 ml Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon

1 tsp spiced demerara syrup (see below)

2 dashes Angostura bitters

1 dash orange bitters

A small strip of orange peel

1 cinnamon stick

3–4 frozen cranberries (for garnish and for gentle chilling)

Large ice cube or sphere

Spiced Demerara Syrup (make once, use all season)

200 g demerara sugar

200 ml water

1 cinnamon stick

2 cloves

1 small piece of orange peel

Gently heat until the sugar dissolves, then simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, cool, strain, and refrigerate. Keeps for 2–3 weeks.

Method

Chill a rocks glass.

Add the spiced demerara syrup and bitters to the glass.

Pour in the Woodford Reserve and stir gently.

Add a large ice cube and stir again until properly chilled.

Express the orange peel over the drink, rim the glass, then drop it in.

Garnish with the cinnamon stick and frozen cranberries.

Why it works

Woodford Reserve’s vanilla, caramel and toasted oak notes marry beautifully with warming Christmas spices.

Demerara sugar enhances depth without masking the bourbon.

Cranberries add festive flair without turning the drink sweet or sharp.

Optional Festive Variations

Smoky Christmas Eve: briefly smoke the glass with cinnamon bark or orange peel.

Nutty Noël: add ¼ tsp hazelnut liqueur for a subtle praline note.

Orange Grove: swap orange bitters for chocolate bitters for a Terry’s-inspired twist.

This is a proper Christmas Old Fashioned, grown-up, elegant, and unmistakably festive.