ALL THE LATEST NEWS, VIEWS AND STORIES FROM AROUND YOUR LOCAL AREA:DECEMBER/JANUARY


THE RIGHT TIME IS ALWAYS NOW


Can you believe we are in December already? It seems only five minutes since I was packing away the decorations and yet here we are facing Christmas again! That said, I love this time of year and I get ridiculously excited at the thought of getting the Christmas Tree up, having the house beautifully decorated with lots of sparkly things and catching up with family and friends.


December is such a month of excess and it is so easy to feel overwhelmed, run down and pretty much exhausted by the time the day arrives!


We spend hours walking around shops or shopping on the internet, looking for the perfect gifts for our loved ones. We eat too much and drink too much, even in the run-up to Christmas. We burn the candle at both ends because we want to go to parties, pantomimes, school concerts and nights out. We catch up with family and friends and it can be a struggle to fit it all in.


Here are some tips to ensure that you take the run up to the festive season in your stride and remain calm, fit and healthy:


Get plenty of rest – It is so easy to not give yourself enough rest around Christmas because there are always so many exciting things to do. Do yourself a favour and try not to schedule too many activities on consecutive nights. Give yourself a break to allow yourself to recover and unwind. I’m not trying to be a party pooper (far from it), I just want you to think of the festivities as a marathon rather than a sprint.


Use Essential Oils – I have become a massive fan of using essential oils to manage any niggling health issues. Oils are great, because you can either use them in a diffuser, on your skin (as long as they are diluted) or in the bath! They are a great way to calm yourself when you are feeling stressed (Lavender oil is great for that) or you need an instant lift (I recommend Lemon or Peppermint oil). They are a healthy way to manage rising stress levels and to keep festive colds away.


Learn to say ‘no’ – this can be tricky and often leads to Christmas burn out. It is so easy to fill your calendar with activities, events, parties and family visits because we want to see everyone/ do everything and don’t want to disappoint. Plan in the things that are an absolute priority first, such as spending time with family. Once that is scheduled in, you know how much time you have left for other activities. When you look at the list of other things you want to do, if it isn’t an absolute YES, then say no. Do it graciously and enjoy the gift of time that you have just bought for yourself.


Ask for help – I think we all believe we must become superhuman in December because we want to give the people we love the best Christmas EVER! There has never been so much pressure. You have to find new and novel ways to do Elf on the Shelf, fill Christmas Eve boxes, buy bigger and better gifts and the list goes on. I am exhausted just thinking about it.


The truth is your family just wants to spend time with you at Christmas. They don’t want an exhausted wreck who is crying in to the bread sauce. Ask for help and people will gladly give it. Get the kids involved in some of the tasks and treat it as a game, ask your partner to provide some support and if you are cooking for a lot of people, perhaps they can contribute to the prep or better still do the washing up.


As the excitement builds and the days are ticked off the Advent Calendar, I ask you to reflect on you and how you are feeling. If you are starting to feel overwhelmed, wake up and smell the ‘Gingerbread Latte’ and recognise that your health and wellbeing are more important than anything. Close your eyes, take a deep breath and remember, that Christmas is one day and that perfection isn’t all it is cracked up to be - 80% will do just fine!


I wish you a Peaceful Christmas Joanna Petrie-Rout, www.no-ordinary-woman.com WWW.THECOCKERMOUTHPOST.CO.UK


WE HAVE MOVED!


2nd Floor Derwent House, Wakefield Road 01900 824111


NEW PATIENTS WELCOME Free car parking | Lift access


Early Morning, Evening and Saturday Appointments High quality private dental care


Our dentists Paul Rowlands | Kirstie Wilson


Michael King | Rebecca Morgan | Jack Spedding Our dentists have special interests in:


Root canal treatments | Life-like dentures | Cosmetic treatments Implants |Anti snoring devices | Management of worn teeth


reception@derwentdentalcare.co.uk www.derwentdentalcare.co.uk


COCKERMOUTH PODIATRY&CHIROPODY LTD


Adele Holmes D.Pod.M, M.Ch.S, S.R.Ch, HCPC Regd. Podiatrist/Chiropodist 01900 826980


If you would like to make an appointment please contact


or adele.chiropody@btinternet.com 20 Laithwaite Close, Cockermouth, CA13 0AQ


This picture shows feet in a Mistletoe


shape and


contains all the information you need to know about Podiatrists.


As you know, I qualified in 1989, so have enjoyed and been proud of my profession for 30 years. However, it has always frustrated me that most of the public, including other medical professionals, have no idea about our 3-year degree, medical training, our scope of practice and what a fantastic medical career it can offer with amazing opportunities. Our profession has reached a stage where we need to promote what we do because the number of young people training as a Podiatrist has reduced, perhaps due to the loss of bursaries. With an aging population and an increase in diabetes, a reduction in Podiatrists could be a big problem for society


MISTLETOES!


amputations and costly medical treatments. So, if you know any young people who fancy working in a caring, medical career, with opportunities


in sports


medicine, surgery, diabetes and paediatrics, Podiatry could be the career of their dreams. I am the Chairman for the Cumbria Branch of the Society of Chiropodists


and Podiatrists. If you require any information about podiatry as a career, or just any foot-related problem, give us a call at the practice on 01900 826980.


Wishing you all an amazing Christmas holiday and a healthy 2018.


My daughter and I are appearing in Snow White at the Carnegie Theatre, Workington. Come along and see the pantomime, it’s amazing!


leading to more falls, Adele 21 DECEMBER 2017 ISSUE 421 PAGE 19


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