By 5pm, the house is twinkling. The tree, my mother’s masterpiece, gleams in golds and reds, each decoration perfectly placed (I’ve long since given up trying to compete). Every year, I take the same photograph of my son, standing in his pajamas, gazing up at it in awe. It’s become our little ritual; a captured moment of stillness before the evening’s magic begins.

While the men look impossibly dapper in velvet jackets, champagne glasses in hand, we nibble on oysters and wait for the knock on the door. And then it happens, that gentle tap tap tap that makes everyone freeze. We rush to the hallway, hearts racing, to find a large sack of presents and, in the distance, a mysterious figure disappearing into the night, lantern swinging. It’s Father Christmas, of course, or rather, the latest family member to don the beautifully old Santa suit that’s been worn by uncles, cousins, and my father before them. It’s a tradition so woven into our family fabric that I can’t imagine Christmas without it.

Once my son’s tucked up in bed, the grown-ups gather by the fire. There’s laughter, more champagne, and the delicious supper that always follows, the perfect, sparkling close to our Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day begins gently,with stockings, lussebullar (also known as saffron buns)  and cinnamon buns over a cosy breakfast, and the smell of coffee filling the house. After a brisk walk in the cold, rosy-cheeked and hungry, we come home to the most glorious Swedish smörgåsbord. Herring, gravadlax, meatballs, ham, red cabbage, potatoes and, of course, aquavit and songs. It’s a wonderfully merry chaos of toasts, laughter and music, the kind that makes your heart swell.

Boxing Day is a big family affair, with aunts, uncles, and cousins everywhere, children running wild, and the unmistakable hum of family togetherness.

And every year, as I look around, I’m reminded just how beautifully my parents have shown us what it means to celebrate, not just Christmas, but life itself. The traditions, the attention to detail, the joy in every ritual, it’s all thanks to them. My mother, in particular, is the beating heart of it all. In her late 70’s and still the chicest woman I know, she is my forever style icon. She has this effortless cool that time simply hasn’t touched. She still wears leather trousers (yes, really) not dissimilar to the Citizens of Humanity, Ayla leather trousers and somehow makes them look as classic as cashmere. There’s something about that looser fit, that relaxed elegance, that makes it so timeless especially when paired with something oversized on top.

So, in her honour, this year’s Festive Edit is a little tribute to her and to the beauty of tradition, Swedish magic, and understated style. I’ve included a few nostalgic favourites.

For The Home: 

The Christmas Goat  
A nod to the Swedish Julbock, the Christmas goat traditionally believed to guard gifts and bring good fortune. Rooted in Nordic folklore, the Julbock symbolises protection, generosity and the spirit of giving. A quiet reminder of the magic and meaning behind the festive season.

Swedish gnomes or tomte. Inspired by Swedish folklore, the tomte is a small but mighty guardian of the home, believed to protect households and bring good fortune throughout the year. These little gnomes were said to watch over families and farms, as long as they were kept happy with a bowl of porridge.

My Festive Style:

The Citizens of Humanity Ayla Leather Trousers
I can’t wait to pair these with an oversized crisp white shirt or a chunky knit and heels. Seeing my mother wear hers with such confidence makes me realise that true style never fades; it just evolves.

Stories Mohair Blend Jumper
I love this soft white and brown Fair Isle pattern, oversized and utterly cosy,perfect for Christmas Day

From the glimmer of a champagne glass to the soft glow of a swinging lantern, these little details old and new make up the tapestry of my Christmas. A celebration of family, style, and the comforting rhythm of tradition. And just like my mother, who wears leather trousers at 78 and still makes them look fabulous, I hope to carry these traditions forward with the same grace, joy, and slightly mischievous sparkle.

Merry Christmas and God Jul!

The post Lou Loves: The Festive Tradition Edit appeared first on Hip & Healthy.

Give the gift of adventure with an Airbnb voucher that lets them escape to anywhere from cosy cabins to chic city apartments.

Vogue Magazine Subscription

A Vogue subscription delivers year-round style inspiration straight to their door, perfect for fashion lovers who want to stay ahead of the trends.

Canopy + Stars Voucher

Treat them to a magical nature escape with a Canopy & Stars voucher, ideal for anyone craving fresh air, slow mornings and beautifully curated glamping spots.

Apple Voucher

From AirPods to apps, an Apple voucher opens the door to tech treats and upgrades they’ll genuinely use every day.

Ruby Voucher

A Ruby voucher gives them the chance to book wellbeing treatments, beauty services or wellness moments exactly when they need them.

Pooky E-Gift Card

Let them brighten their home in style with a Pooky e-gift card, perfect for design lovers who adore unique, characterful lighting.

Class Pass Voucher

Gift them endless ways to move with a ClassPass voucher, offering everything from yoga and barre to boxing and reformer Pilates at studios near them.

Bloom & Wild Subscription

A Bloom & Wild flower subscription brings fresh, thoughtful blooms to their doorstep each month, guaranteed to lift their mood.

Hertility Hormone Test Gift Card

Empower their health journey with a Hertility test gift card, giving them personalised insights into fertility, hormones and wellbeing.

With Nothing Underneath E-Gift Card

A WNU gift card lets them choose from beautifully tailored, timeless shirts that elevate any wardrobe effortlessly.

Calcot Manor Overnight Voucher

A night at Calcot Manor promises fireside relaxation, countryside luxury and spa-soaked serenity all in one unforgettable stay.

Selfridges Voucher

A Selfridges voucher unlocks an entire world of fashion, beauty and lifestyle icons, the ultimate choose-your-own-treat present.

Pottery Studio Lessons

Gift them a calming creative escape with pottery lessons, where they can switch off, get messy and make something truly unique.

Daunt Book Gift Certificate

A Daunt Books certificate opens the door to hours of browsing and the joy of discovering their next unforgettable read.

Theatre Tickets 

Treat them to a night of culture with theatre tickets—an experience full of storytelling, atmosphere and shared magic.

V&A Membership

A V&A membership offers unlimited inspiration with access to world-class exhibitions, members’ previews and a beautiful creative community.

Wylder Yoga Retreat

Send them on a restorative escape with a Wylder yoga retreat, combining mindful movement, nourishing food and soul-soothing nature.

Wellness Experience at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park

A wellness experience at the Mandarin Oriental promises pure indulgence with treatments, tranquillity and a touch of London luxury.

Lisa Franklin Voucher

A Lisa Franklin voucher invites them to enjoy science-led, glow-giving skincare treatments in one of London’s most serene beauty spaces.

Tea at the Ritz

Tea at the Ritz is a timeless treat, serving up elegance, tiered cakes and a quintessentially British moment to savour.

Cirque du Soleil Tickets

Cirque du Soleil tickets deliver a night of breathtaking acrobatics, artistry and awe-inspiring performance they’ll never forget.

The post 21 Ideas for Last Minute Gifts You Can Buy Online appeared first on Hip & Healthy.

December arrives and the invitations come in thick and fast. Drinks, dinners, plans to “catch up before Christmas” stack up quickly. What’s supposed to feel festive can leave your diary busier than ever and your energy heading in the opposite direction.

We’re sold the idea that the season should be one long celebration, filled with sequins, champagne, buzzy dinners and late-night conversations. And while those moments can be joyful, they also come with a cost. Between the outfit prep, late nights, rich food and endless small talk, many of us wake up not glowing, but drained. That wiped-out feeling (think brain fog, emotional flatness and zero social battery) is often referred to as social burnout, or a social hangover.

December amplifies this pressure to be constantly “on”. Friends want to catch up, colleagues want to toast the year, family want to squeeze in quality time and you want to show up, smile and make it all meaningful. Yet the Christmas break rarely behaves like a break. It’s connection on repeat, with no time to actually refuel.

For me, learning to set boundaries has been the difference between enjoying the season and simply enduring it. In my twenties, I’d accept every invite and wonder why I ended up depleted. Now, I know it’s not about being antisocial, it’s about understanding capacity. For some of us, solitude isn’t indulgent; it’s essential.

What is social burnout exactly?

Social burnout isn’t just feeling “peopled out” after back-to-back plans, it’s a deeper state of emotional, mental and physical depletion. “It happens when we’ve spent more energy socially than our body can comfortably replenish,” explains Jess Shand, registered naturopathic nutritionist and hormone health specialist. “It isn’t simply over-doing it – it’s a deeper overstimulation of the nervous system.”

Rather than bouncing back after a night’s sleep, social burnout lingers. It can show up as irritability, emotional flatness, anxiety, brain fog or the sense that even simple conversations feel draining. Physically, Shand says many people describe “heaviness in the body, tension in the chest, a tight jaw or a sense of being ‘wired but tired’.” Think low battery mode, even after a full charge.

What’s going on in the body?

When we override our need for rest, the body shifts into fight-or-flight mode and stays there. “The stress response stays switched on,” Shand explains. “Cortisol becomes dysregulated, which can disrupt other hormones such as progesterone, oestrogen and thyroid hormones.” The result? Poor sleep, low mood, dips in energy, craving sugar or caffeine and difficulty focusing.

During December, multiple stressors stack at once – late nights, alcohol, social pressure, disrupted routines and emotional triggers. “Even positive excitement raises cortisol,” Shand adds. Add the fact that hydration drops, sleep shortens and boundaries tend to slide, and you have the perfect storm for anxiety spikes and exhaustion. A social hangover, says Shand, is the body’s way of “shouting for some real TLC.”

Little-known warning signs

Beyond feeling tired, the body sends subtle cues that you’ve reached capacity. Shand highlights:

• Waking between 3–4am
• Heightened sugar or caffeine cravings
• More colds or slower recovery
• Bloating and digestive sluggishness
• Jaw clenching or headaches
• Feeling unusually cold
• PMS or cycle symptoms intensifying

These small shifts, she stresses, are early signs the nervous system needs rest, not another event in the diary.

The psychology behind burnout

While the physical symptoms of social burnout are hard to ignore, the mental and emotional load plays just as big a role. Emily Austen, founder of EMERGE PR and author of Smarter: 10 Lessons for a More Productive and Less-Stressed Life, says social burnout happens when your emotional, mental and physical energy have been “overdrawn” for too long.“It feels like you’ve been ‘on show’ – performing, hosting, chatting, pleasing – without the space to regulate your own needs.”

Her tell-tale signs include:

• Dreading plans you’d usually enjoy
• Irritability or sensitivity
• Feeling overwhelmed by tiny decisions (what to wear, when to leave)
• Physical heaviness, headaches or tension
• A complete lack of desire to socialise, even with people you adore

Austen says these early cues often get ignored. “Social burnout is your energy screaming that it needs recalibrating, and most of us push past the warning signs.”

How to protect your energy this festive season

To avoid burnout, both experts say the key is pacing – not just your plans, but your capacity. Austen suggests planning your diary around energy, not time. “Ask yourself when you naturally have more capacity, what drains you and how many social plans you can manage before you crash,” she says.

Shand agrees that this preventative approach is essential. “When we override our need for rest, the stress response stays switched on,” she explains, which is why December feels so depleting.

Together, they recommend:

• Keep one or two quiet nights non-negotiable
• Avoid stacking intense plans back-to-back
• Create buffer days around bigger events
• Build micro-rest into your day (e.g. a morning walk, screen-free commute, early finish)
• Pause before accepting invitations rather than defaulting to “yes”
• Eat a protein-rich meal before events to keep blood sugar stable
• Stay hydrated, ideally with electrolytes on busier days

“It’s not antisocial to protect your energy,” Austen adds. “It’s self-respect.”

How to say no (without feeling guilty)

Guilt is one of the biggest barriers to preventing burnout, especially for women. “We’ve been conditioned to believe being agreeable makes us good,” Austen says. But boundaries, she stresses, are not selfish. “Guilt isn’t proof you’re doing something wrong, it’s proof a healthier behaviour feels unfamiliar.”

Here are her go-to scripts:

For declining plans

“Thank you for thinking of me, but I’m keeping things low-key this week.”
“I’d love to see you, but I don’t have the energy for a big night. Can we do something quieter another time?”
“That sounds great, but I have a low social battery at the moment and just need a night at home.”

For leaving early

“I’ve had the best time, but my battery’s done. I’m heading out.”
“I promised myself an early night – love you all, see you soon!”

For avoiding overcommitting

“Let me check my energy and get back to you.”
“This month is nuts for me, but I’d love to plan something next month.”
“I’m feeling a little socially drained so would prefer to do a walk or Pilates if you’re up for that?”

Shand adds that setting expectations early helps prevent nervous system overload before it starts.

How to recover from a social hangover

When you do reach your limit, Shand recommends supporting your nervous system as soon as possible. Think of it as giving your body room to recalibrate.

A few restorative rituals both experts say genuinely help:

• Hydrate with minerals or electrolytes
• Choose grounding meals with protein, slow carbs, greens
• Increase magnesium (supplemental or through food) to ease tension
• Opt for gentle movement, like stretching or a slow walk
• Create a low-stimulus evening – warm bath, dim lights, deep breathing, phone on silent
• Keep the following day light, with minimal commitments

Alcohol is a major factor in social burnout, Shand says, because it disrupts sleep and depletes nutrients. Drinking smarter (aka pacing drinks, alternating with water and eating protein beforehand) can lessen the morning-after slump.

Her supplement picks to support recovery include:

Dreem Distillery Night Drops

Phizz Daily Immune+ Effervescent Tablets

ARTHA Enhanced Nootropics

Bare Biology Ready & Rested

Ancient + Brave True Ashwagandha

The post Social Burnout Is Real: Here’s How to Avoid It This Festive Season appeared first on Hip & Healthy.

When it came to curating the ultimate Christmas wishlist for the dog lovers in our life, we knew we had to ask DogDate founders, Naheed and Alin, for the gifts they swear by.

Bone Pet Storage Basket: Oliver Bonas
A chic seagrass storage basket,  perfect for tidying toys while still looking gorgeous in the corner of your living room. A design-led upgrade from the usual pet storage.

Lucy and Lola Personalised Pet Embroidered Clothes
The sweetest custom sweatshirt or tee embroidered with your dog’s face. The perfect cosy, heartfelt gift for any pet-obsessed human.

Furbo 360 Dog Camera
The ultimate smart dog camera, with 360° views, real-time alerts, and treat-tossing magic. Perfect for anxious pet parents or anyone who just loves spying on their dog all day.

Doggy Daycare Boot Bag: Sophie Allport
A lifesaver for muddy walks and rainy-day adventures. This spacious, wipe-clean boot bag keeps a car spotless while celebrating your loved ones dog-mum (or dad) life in style.

Personalised Terracotta and White Large Pet Bowl 
A handcrafted, slab-built pet bowl from Henry Holland Studio, beautifully fashioned in terracotta and white earthenware clay with a high-gloss glaze.

The Dog in Photography 1839 – Today: TASCHEN
A stunning coffee-table book tracing the love affair between humans and dogs through iconic photography. A beautiful art piece for dog lovers and design lovers alike.

Personalised Two-Tone Ceramic Dog Mug: Holly.co
Choose your loved ones dog’s breed and favourite colourway to create the ultimate personalised mug for morning coffee.

Red & Blue Diamond Pupcorn Treat Bag Gift Set: Oliver Bonas
A fun, festive treat bag gift set, ideal as a stocking filler or Secret Santa for dog parents.

Tractive GPS Dog Tracker
A lightweight GPS tracker that lets you follow your dog’s every move in real time. Ideal for adventurers, escape artists, or pups with too much curiosity.

Knightsbridge Houndstooth ’25 Collar, Lead & Bow Tie Bundle: Stocky & Dee
A beautifully crafted, classic houndstooth set: collar, lead, and bow tie. Smart, timeless, and festive without being kitschy.

The post Presents For Pet Lovers appeared first on Hip & Healthy.

The post The Best Beauty Gifts for 2025… appeared first on Hip & Healthy.

For Bath Lovers
Dreem Distillery Limited-Edition CBD Body & Bath Set, £45

Dreem Distillery are not only masters in relaxation but their products support the body’s parasympathetic nervous system by harnessing the potent power of plants and botanicals, chosen for their efficacy to create the best formulations. This luxury bath gift set includes a mini Among the Stars Body Oil (30ml) and mini Into the Deep Bath Oil (30ml) promoting total body relaxation. The brand believes in giving ourselves daily practices that help us to disconnect from the stresses of life in order to promote wellbeing, healing and longevity. If you know someone who has a penchant for baths – then this is the perfect gift!

For The Sleep Obsessed
Dreem Distillery Limited Edition Sleep Ritual Gift Set, £70

When life is busy, sleep becomes ever more important. For those who love sleep or for those that are in desperate need of more of it – this gift set is ideal. Featuring mini Night Drops (10ml) and mini Bed Balm (15ml), this travel-ready duo is designed to calm the mind and soothe the body. The high-grade cbd helps send even the most highly-strung into the most peaceful of slumbers. Plus, there is a free breathwork video series with every purchase.

For The Wellness Traveller
Dreem Distillery Jet Set Kit, £145

Perfectly presented in a luxury blue towelling wash bag, each Jet Set Kit includes travel-sized luxury body oils that all promote wellbeing and relaxation: Among the Stars body oil (30ml), Into the Deep luxury bath oil (30ml), Night Drops natural sleep aid (10ml) and Bed Balm muscle relaxing balm (15ml). So that wherever you are, prioritising your self-care is at the heart of your adventures.

H&H Stocking Filler Edit:

Night Drops Gift Set (10ml Night Drops + Christmas Pyramid), £60

Moonlit Night Cream (Luxury Illuminating Sleep Mask with CBD, £40)

Bed Balm (Luxury Muscle Relaxing Balm with CBD), £75

The post The Ultimate Gift Guide To Help Loved Ones (or yourself!) Relax, Rest and De-stress… appeared first on Hip & Healthy.

At Hip & Healthy, we believe deeply in opening up conversations that are too often held in silence. Fertility struggles affect 1 in 6 couples, yet the emotional reality of facing them during the holidays rarely gets the compassion it deserves. 

Our Partnership Director, Louise, generously opened up about her own experience of trying to conceive, sharing the unseen weight the holidays can carry:

“During my four years of fertility treatments, Christmas became one of the hardest times of the year. I’ve always adored the season, family is everything to me but longing to be a mum during a holiday so centred around children felt unbearably heavy. Everywhere I turned, it felt like a reminder of what I didn’t yet have. My Instagram feed would fill with friends posting photos of their little ones in Christmas jumpers, writing letters to Santa, experiencing the magic that only children can bring, and although I was genuinely happy for them, it was incredibly triggering. I often had to step away from social media altogether. Instead, I tried to ground myself in the present and focus on the family I did have around me, even when my heart was quietly breaking. Christmas should have felt joyful, but in those years, it was a reminder of everything I was desperately hoping for yet still waiting to hold. I tried to believe that things could change, that my story wasn’t finished yet. And eventually, against all the odds, it did change. I got my little miracle. Now, Christmas looks completely different: the magic, the wonder, the joy I once watched from a distance is finally part of my own world. Those painful years are still a part of me, but they make the present feel even more precious. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most beautiful seasons are the ones we had to wait the longest for.”

Her words capture what so many feel but rarely articulate: that Christmas can be both beautiful and unbearably hard. It’s possible to hold love and grief at the same time. It’s possible to be happy for others and hurting for yourself. And it’s more than okay to acknowledge that.

You’re Not Alone in Feeling This Way

The pressure to “be merry” can make the emotional load even heavier. You might find yourself navigating triggering questions from relatives, endless celebrations centered around children, or the constant reminder that another year has passed, still without the baby you hoped for.

Dr Helen O’Neill, Founder and CEO of Hertility, emphasises that this emotional weight is not something anyone should have to carry in silence: “The holidays can amplify the quiet grief that so many experience when navigating fertility struggles. While everyone else seems to be celebrating new beginnings, it can feel like you’re standing still. But at Hertility, we believe that one of the most powerful gifts you can give yourself this Christmas is information. Understanding your hormones and your reproductive health can replace months, even years, of anxiety with clarity. It’s about taking back a sense of control, at a time when so much feels uncertain. Knowledge doesn’t take away the pain, but it replaces fear with understanding, and that can be the greatest comfort of all.”

Normalising the Hard Bits

If you’re navigating fertility challenges this season, here is what we want you to know:

You’re not “negative” for feeling sad.
You’re human. Christmas intensifies everything; joy, love, longing, and grief.

You don’t have to go to every event you’re invited to.
Protect your peace. If a children’s party or family gathering feels too raw, prioritise your emotional wellbeing.

It’s okay to step away from social media.
Comparison is painful and curating your emotional landscape is powerful self-protection.

You can create your own version of Christmas.
One that feels gentle, spacious, and comforting rather than overwhelming.

You don’t have to explain your feelings to anyone.
Your experience is valid even when others don’t fully understand it.

Finding Hope, Even If You’re Not Feeling Hopeful

For some, like Louise, Christmas eventually becomes the joyful celebration they had long imagined. For others, the path looks different. Whichever story becomes yours, your feelings today are real, understandable and deserving of compassion.

This Christmas, we hope you give yourself permission to feel what you feel, seek the support you need, and know – truly know – that you are not walking this road alone.

If you’re looking for clarity, reassurance or expert guidance during the holidays, Hertility’s clinical team remains available throughout December, offering both emotional support and practical insight; “Fertility worries don’t pause for Christmas, and neither do we.” Fertility’s CEO comments.

Your story isn’t finished yet. And however this season looks for you, you deserve gentleness, care, and hope.

The post Normalising How Hard Christmas Can Feel When You’re Navigating Fertility Struggles appeared first on Hip & Healthy.

From boots I’ve been eyeing for months to the softest cashmere – it’s all here.  A mix of stylish staples, thoughtful gifts, and a few treats I definitely wouldn’t mind unwrapping myself.

I hope something on this list sparks an idea for your own gifting… or gives you the perfect excuse to spoil yourself.

The post What’s on Sassy’s Christmas Wishlist… appeared first on Hip & Healthy.

The ceremony, the ritual, the anticipation, the “sod it” mentality, the connection with others, the you-only-live-once shenanigans. I come from a big Irish family where not drinking is viewed as slightly weird. “Go on, you’ll have one, won’t you? For medicinal purposes?”.

Why I Stopped Drinking

As much as I loved it, I hated it in equal measure. The relentless cycle of empty promises I made to myself: I won’t drink midweek. I’ll stop after this. Tomorrow I’ll be better. Then a row with my boyfriend, a tax bill, checking my bank balance – cue the glass of red.

I wasn’t an alcoholic. I just drank more than I should, and I exercised to counteract the anxiety that came with it. I wanted to stop, but the thought of a holiday without champagne at the airport, or a glass on the balcony, or a birthday toast? It paralysed me.

How can you have Christmas without alcohol? Surely you’d be alcohol-free and miserable?

What I Learned

Here’s what I discovered: I couldn’t have been more wrong. Ditching booze has given me – and my sister – so much happiness. Going to bed sober with a book and a cup of tea, and waking up with peace in my heart instead of sweaty palms and flashbacks, that’s joy I didn’t know was possible. Every day, I’m grateful I cracked it. I feel like I’ve discovered a secret most people don’t know exists. Being sober is bloody brilliant. You wake up with energy, you sleep well, your skin glows, and you’re no longer trapped doing something you don’t actually want to do. The health benefits are enormous. Research shows even one glass of wine is harmful, it’s a known carcinogen, and I honestly think that in 50 years we’ll view alcohol the same way we view smoking now.

How It Started

I never said I was giving up forever. I told myself I’d do 30 days and see how I felt. My sister and I were doing a comedy show in Edinburgh. We had two tiny kids at the time, and Sharon was still dealing with an autoimmune disease. We knew we couldn’t perform and drink as well. So we got through the whole Edinburgh Festival without a single drop.

And guess what? For the first time ever, after a booze-free festival, I came home feeling okay. Normally, after a month of boozy Edinburgh nights, I’d return low, dishevelled, and completely flat. But that year, I felt fine.

The longer we didn’t drink, the better I felt. My sleep improved. I could finally tell whether I was actually depressed or just exhausted and chemically scrambled from countless late nights.

Everything got better. The longer I stayed off it, the better I felt. I became a better mum, sister, friend. I felt more optimistic, more positive. I loved waking up early with my first cup of coffee, scrolling Instagram with peace in my heart. I felt good – why would I go back?

A Little Word of Warning

If you do knock it on the head for a while, don’t bang on about it like I am now – people will hate you! Share your joy with people who actually want to hear it. Pick your audience, because drinkers hate nothing more than a self-righteous non-drinker. Tell friends who will support you, rather than feel threatened by your non-drinking.

My Top Tips for a Booze-Free Christmas

1. Google famous teetotallers. For some reason, it helps. Catherine Tate, Lee Mack, Tom Holland; reading their stories made me feel less abnormal for wanting to stop.
2. Order drinks you actually like – in nice glasses. Sparkling water in a good glass hits differently. Mocktails help too. I drove to events so there was no temptation.
3. Face the research. Don’t avoid it. It’s compelling – whichever way you look at it, alcohol isn’t good for your health.
4. Learn to “surf the urge.” Nir Eyal talks about noticing the urge instead of fighting it. Tell yourself: If I still want this in ten minutes, I can have it. 99.9% of the time, the urge disappears.
5. Drive. There’s nothing better than getting into your own car after a party.
6. Reward yourself. Doing something hard deserves recognition. My go-to treat was a massage.
7. Fill your time. Do the things hangovers used to steal from you; reading, exercising, writing, early mornings with a clear head.

The Best Decision I Ever Made

Giving up alcohol was one of the greatest things I’ve ever done. It’s not always popular, but it’s been the biggest needle-mover in every part of my health.

My only regret? That I didn’t do it sooner.

words by Lauretta Gavin, https://gavinsisters.co.uk/

The post Have Yourself a Sober Little Christmas… Here’s How This Woman Went Sober And Has Never Looked Back appeared first on Hip & Healthy.

As a sound healing practitioner and founder of a True North Sound Studio in Soho, I’m drawn to gifts that blend calm, quality, and quiet luxury, things that soothe the senses and celebrate mindful living.

My Christmas wish list begins with the Pañpuri Advent Calendar, new to the EU and brings fragrant touch of Thai indulgence, and the Moleskine Snoopy Journal for journaling by the sea. In my studio, I’d love more crystals from Venusrox that would be perfect for my meditation and sound work.

For some luxurious self-care, I’m dreaming of the Asaya Spa at the new Rosewood Mayfair or an annual membership at Six Senses London
a brand new wellness sanctuary in the heart of the city. For some special Christmas scent and body treats, the Cire Trudon Holiday Candle in the rereleased Nazareth, The Newt in Somerset Commune Body Cream  and Joonbyrd “Moon Swim” Body Wash – an indulgent and a dreamy treat on Christmas Day!

Some stocking stuffers for myself include a bit of glam: with Sisley’s Ginkgo Gua Sha, the Hermès Lip Care Balm, and Trait d’Hermès Red Mascara soft, festive, and easy to remove.

Evenings and airport travel call for organic Japanese Genmaicha from Harrods, the Kujten Baby Cashmere Blanket in pink, and Cosmic Dealer Botanical Chocolates  For inspiration, The Wellness Bucket List and for my practice, Heola Chimes and the Woojer MAT

I would love a gift certificate to Covent Garden’s own AIRE Ancient Baths London: candlelight, stillness, and sound to unwind for an afternoon to myself! 

This year, I’m also mostly wishing for serenity and the quiet joy with my gorgeous family and friends! 

The post Sound Healer, Nancy Trueman, Shares Her Mindful Christmas Wishlist And Why She Always Spends Christmas Abroad… appeared first on Hip & Healthy.