December is here and it’s almost time to clock out for family time and festive cheer. But you still have to wrap up this year on a high, even when you’re likely to be feeling drained and the pressure is piling up at work and at home. Feeling overwhelmed? You’re not alone! We have tips to help you stay up even when you feel like stepping down.

Listen to a TED Talk

Sometimes all you need is a little motivation to take on the day. Inspirational TED talks are a great way to achieve this. They’re no longer than 18 minutes and cover topics ranging from tech to business, science, culture, politics, and humanitarian themes. Find them on YouTube, or on Spotify, which also offers a choice of TED Talk-themed podcasts. To get started, check out some of the most popular and inspiring TED Talks of all time.

Get your morning workout

Exercising in the morning is an all-day energy booster, mood enhancer, and helps you sleep better – even as little as 30 minutes a day has been shown to be effective. You don’t have to be an elite athlete, and there are plenty of mobile apps available to help you create a workout tailored to your needs and level. Using a smartwatch to monitor your activity and sleeping patterns is a great motivator, as it lets you see evidence of your progress.

Eat well to feel good

You are what you eat, and your diet affects your general mood and energy levels. Make sure you’re eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruit and veg, as well as whole grains, lean meats, fish, nuts, and legumes, and olive oil, among others. Also cut down on sugar, salt, and processed foods, limit your fat intake, and remember to go easy on the alcohol – particularly over the season!

Take Time Out To Meditate

People are always saying that meditation is a great way to destress and gain perspective, and they're not lying. Some of the benefits of meditation include gaining a new perspective on stressful situations, gaining skills to manage stress, keeping you focused on the present and increasing self-awareness among other things. It's not hard to do either, in fact, there are plenty of meditation videos on YouTube, some are even tailored for specific purposes (mindfulness, de-stressing, inner peace).

Need an app to help you destress and deal with anxiety and depression? There are some great ones available on various app stores. Here we share five easy-to-use ones.