“One in three men feel lonely at Christmas – even when around others”

This was found in a report conducted by the Priory Group on 2000 males aged over 25, which also found high rates of anxiety (over a quarter) and higher rates of financial stress at Christmas time.

If these figures are so high, then why aren’t we hearing more about it?

And what can you do to protect yourself and help others?

A high proportion of our clients are male, so we DO see this playing out nearer Christmas time. When clients take a seat in the barber’s chair something happens. It becomes a place where they know they can talk about the pressures they’re facing and lighten that load just a little bit more. Another layer of stress peeled away.

Ever heard the saying ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’? That’s very much how we see it. And we know our clients get a lot of relief by just voicing their concerns over home, work and relationship stresses. Talking can trigger your brain to work things out. Solutions come to the surface when you start to share some of those things that are eating away at you.

Now, we’re not therapists and we don’t pretend to be! But we believe all barbers have a huge responsibility when it comes to mental health, as we know firsthand just how easy it is for people to open up. So we don’t judge, we lead with empathy and we lend an ear. And we can signpost you to specialist support services if you need them.

What can you do to look after your own wellbeing over Christmas time? Here’s a handy list of some self-care strategies you can start to put in place now to ease those feelings of loneliness and anxiety around Christmas and take charge of your own wellbeing.

Making plans to be around people might feel overwhelming right now, but it’s a bit like going to the gym. You don’t want to go and every inch of you is fighting it, but once you get there you have a great time not to mention feel GREAT after! Christmas can feel like a lonely time for some of us, but we are inherently social beings and we feed off of each other’s energy. 

So whether it’s booking in for that catch up with a friend. Or treating yourself to an extra visit or two to the barbers (well it is Christmas after all!) book some plans in to get that human connection over Christmas.

Some people and some situations just don’t make us feel good. Sometimes we take on too much over Christmas to the point we get overwhelmed and burnt out. Sometimes we offer to take on extra work to ‘prove ourselves’. You are allowed to say no if it feels like too much. You are in charge of the energy you choose to be around, so make sure you choose wisely. Christmas is already a busy time so spend it with positive people, and by doing the things you enjoy.

If you feel like you’re getting overwhelmed, your body might start to go into ‘fight or flight’ mode as it feels it’s under attack. Take a step back and reassess what situations are causing this and find ways to lighten the load. Give yourself permission to say no.

Not every Christmas is the same as the last one.

Try not to make comparisons with what has gone before, or with how other people are planning their Christmas. Financial situations change, personal circumstances change – life is a journey of ebb and flow.

If things are tighter this year, set realistic expectations on yourself as to what’s possible and have open conversations with your loved ones. When you set realistic expectations on yourself a whole heap of pressure is released, and you’ll find yourself feeling less overwhelmed with trying to ‘have it all’.

There’s a reason there’s a whole movement dedicated to gratitude journalling. Because it works!

This is where you write in a journal all the things you’re grateful for every day. It could be a morning or evening practice, or maybe even weekly. But the important thing is that you practice it regularly.

It can be as simple as being grateful for the clean air you’re breathing. To the breakfast you had that morning. They can be big things or small things. But what it does is remind you of how precious this life is and start to recognise the small things. This isn’t about toxic positivity or trying to say ‘well it could be worse!’. This is about training your brain to look for the good things in life. Which in turn increases your overall wellbeing.

This is probably the most important part so listen up. If you’re struggling and you need help, ask for it.  It sounds SO simple, but as males we are incredibly bad at reaching out and tend to muddle through until it’s too late. Until we burn out or reach that precipice.

There are many people in your life that WANT you to reach out if you’re struggling. We hear it all the time –  ‘I wish my mate had said something to me’. You are never a problem, never an inconvenience. Whether you reach out to us, a close friend or family member, or even a stranger on one of the helplines over in this article, there are hundreds of people right now that are ready to help you. It might not feel like it right now, but we can promise you, there are. So don’t let those fears stop you.

Recognise when things are feeling a bit too much and please speak to someone.

Did you know that our owner Shaz works Sundays? It’s a quiet time with less barbers in so less clients. A perfect time to decompress from the week. Treat yourself and mix it up with one of our range of treatments. You deserve some self-care too you know!

Everything is bookable online so it’s really easy to find a time to suit you. Just click here.

Whether you live in Peterborough, Stamford, or the surrounding areas, our barbers is based at the bottom of Werrington Village and easily accessible on your way home or to work with free parking.

Just click here to book.