What are the origins of this fun-filled festive custom?
Research shows that people who make an effort to be grateful for the good things in their life have lower levels of cortisone, the hormone that contributes to stress.
Make sure to take some time for yourself each day, switching off all your devices and trying to just be present in the moment. If you can completely get away for a while, even better.
When there's a lot of work to be done, chances are the emails and calls are coming in thick and fast. Unfortunately, being available 24/7 is a prime contributor to high levels of stress.
When workloads are mountainous, it can be easy to work long hours at the expense of a good night's sleep. However, sleep is important for productivity and this can make things worse.
When pressure is coming down on you from all sides, it can be easy for negative thoughts to spiral. However, dwelling on negative thoughts only gives them power.
Taking just 10 minutes each day to meditate and remove yourself from stressful situations will help you to maintain perspective and see the bigger picture.
There is no need to train for a triathlon, but incorporating a walk or a jog into your day will definitely help relieve feelings of pressure.
Rather than adopting the attitude of the victim, focus on being the person who finds the solution to the problem. Remember that situations arise; we can only control how we respond.
Another important element of life that often suffers at the hands of a heavy workload is physical exercise. However, exercise stimulates the part of the nervous system that calms the body down.
Meditation is another great way to get some relief from the constant pressures of a busy working life. It can be seen as a sort of mental distraction.
A balanced and non-restrictive diet will properly fuel your brain and help it to perform the necessary functions required to keep your stress levels down.
If your brain is to regulate your stress level, it needs to be in great shape to do so. A healthy brain requires a healthy diet, so be sure to think about what you're eating.
It sounds easier said than done, but keeping things in perspective is paramount when it comes to handling pressure and dealing with stress.
Belly-breathing requires us to relax our diaphragm and allow our lungs to fill with air and expand fully. This helps to slow heart rate and lower or stabilize blood pressure.
It is a little-known fact that most people do not breathe properly. Due to a number of reasons, we tend to breathe from our chest, when we should really be breathing from our bellies.
Surrounding yourself with the right people is enormously important. This is because being around the wrong people is a drain on our oh-so-precious energy.
Asking questions such as, "What's the worst thing that could happen if I don't meet this deadline?" will help you to realize that the majority of issues are not a matter of life and death.
What about when we're in an unusually high-pressure situation, like giving a presentation or taking an exam? A great tip is to learn to live with the discomfort of such tasks.
Wherever possible, try to surround yourself with people who make you feel empowered and positive.
When you're at the bottom of a big pile of work and looking up, it is all too easy to feel overwhelmed by the size of the task at hand.
Another tip for abnormally high-pressured situations is to establish a pre-performance routine. This will help distract you from worrying while getting you in the zone.
What the routine should entail is very much up to the individual, but ideas might include calling someone close to you or doing a stretching routine.
See also: The best ways to reduce your blood pressure.
Getting a good night's sleep every night allows your body and mind to recover from the stresses of the day and get ready to tackle the next day head on.
However, no matter the size of a task, it is always comprised of many smaller tasks. Breaking down the task into bitesize chunks will help it seem much more manageable.
If it feels like negative thoughts are racing round your head, try to break the flow by distracting yourself with a positive thought. This will prompt your brain to switch to its 'stress-free zone.
Starting each day by naming three things you are grateful for can help bring down those cortisone levels and enable you to better deal with the stresses of a busy working life.
For example, if you have to give a presentation, practice in front of the mirror or in front of two to three friends before the big day. The aim is not to rid yourself of discomfort, but to help you get used to the feeling.
Similar to thinking positive thoughts, it is very important not to play the victim. If you do, negative thoughts will mount until tasks seem unsurmountable.
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Since the shift to working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, some have found more time for hobbies or family, while others feel the scales have tipped too far toward work.
If you're grappling with constant online meetings and minimal team interaction, you're not alone. Explore this gallery for tips on managing work-related stress in today's environment.