Brainbox Blog

Christmas is, for most people, a welcome pause in the year to celebrate being with family and friends, whatever your faith or beliefs. I’m certainly looking forward to spending time with family members I rarely get time to see and having a break from a hectic work and training schedule. However, a few articles I’ve recently seen in magazines, postings on Facebook and my own experiences of studying and teaching self-protection have reminded me that it is important not to let all the festivities in the next few days cloud our usual good judgement and make us vulnerable to people who might want to spoil our fun.

Drink! Probably the biggest danger to Christmas & New Year party goers comes from the inevitable excess of alcohol at this time of year. For women in particular, being drunk or even just tipsy can affect how we perceive risk. This includes our perception of risk from attractive strangers (beer goggles!) and putting ourselves in situations we wouldn’t normally get into when sober, such as leaving a party with a complete stranger or taking them home. Please don’t be tempted to walk home alone after a night out: make sure that you have a taxi from a reputable firm booked earlier that evening (so you don’t forget after you’ve had a few drinks – I’ve been there, too!), or arrange that a trusted, non-drinking friend will drive you home. There are low-lifes out there who will be looking for solo, intoxicated females trying to get themselves home in the early hours, peeling away from a group of friends and becoming suddenly vulnerable. In an ideal world, we should all be able to walk home at any time of day or night, man or woman, free of the fear or attack, but that it is not reality – don’t make yourself an easy target. Remember that alcohol also reduces body temperature, and we’ve all seen the horror stories in the news of revellers collapsing while walking home drunk and dying of hypothermia. Know your personal limits, alternate alcoholic drinks with soft ones, and stay safe.

Travel Many of us have to travel to be with family at this time of year, whether within our own countries or internationally. If you are travelling alone, remember these basic tips: if you are travelling on public transport i.e. buses and trains, don’t be tempted to fall asleep to pass the time. With violent assaults being increasingly reported, you need to be relaxed but alert to potential flare-ups so that you can take evasive action. Keep belongings close to you, or at least keep an eye on bags that are too big and have to be stowed in the racks near train exits. Be discreet with valuables – I know that mobile devices and i-Pods etc. help to pass the time on boring journeys, but they are also very attractive items to a petty thief in the way that a good book probably isn’t! If you are driving, remember that getting in and out of cars is the most likely time of attack, so stay alert and make sure that the first action you take once you are in your vehicle is to lock the doors. If extreme weather is going to be a factor, be prepared in case of serious traffic delays or breakdowns: make sure you have a fully charged mobile, warm clothes and food & drink ready for use.

In the home While Christmas is a time of fun and celebration for the majority (bar the usual irritations with certain family members!), remember that this can also be a flashpoint for certain households where domestic abuse is a problem. An emotionally-charged atmosphere combined with excess alcohol and spending extra cash can make for an explosive combination. If you know of any potentially vulnerable friends, especially if they have children, then please keep an eye on them. The Samaritans reports a significant increase in calls to their helpline each Christmas concerning domestic violence, so please be vigilant. More information can be found at the link below, including that helpline number:

http://www.samaritans.org/media_centre/emotional_health_news/christmas-violence-009.aspx 

And breathe! Probably the biggest risk to everyone’s health over Christmas is stress. We all have moments at this time of year where we can’t cope with being cooped up with the family, having to listen to over-excited, high-on-sugar screaming kids, the turkey hasn’t defrosted, or we realise we are entering January with a serious cash deficit and an increased waist measurement. If you feel yourself hitting boiling point, get out into the fresh air for a run or brisk walk or, failing that, lock yourself in the bathroom for five minutes and do a breathing exercise. Inhale for a slow count of four, hold for another four, and then exhale for a slow count of four – it’s the exhalation that relaxes. This should help you to feel more grounded and less likely to snap at your nearest and dearest. And, should the temptation arise to tell Uncle Bob about all the Christmas parties he’s ruined over the years with his deficient personality, bite your tongue and remind yourself: do you want to be right, or do you want to be happy? In a few weeks’ time, none of this will matter. Really!

If you need motivation with your new year resolutions or would like some training to help you stay safe whatever you are doing, you know where to come! Stay safe and happy wherever Christmas takes you - Brainbox wishes everyone a happy and healthy 2012!