FIRST it was bushfires, then it was coronavirus – the events of the last few years have left Canberrans with a heightened state of anxiety, a Canberra psychologist says.

“We have been through bushfires and covid, and so we have had a long period with a sense of threat,” says Jason McCrae, a clinical psychologist of 15 years.

“We have all been anxious, and our anxiety systems have been activated for a long period of time.”

Feelings of worry can be expected during stressful events, but ongoing crises have made switching off significantly hard, says McCrae. 

“We had smoke literally hovering over us, then the daily covid case numbers, new exposure sites, the new variant… all these things activated our anxieties and have made rest a lot more difficult,” McCrae says.

“When we live in a constant state of threat, our body does not rest properly.”

Mr McCrae believes the holiday season is an opportunity to switch off.

Getting proper rest is important, he says, but covid has changed the way we relax and unwind in our homes.

“Covid meant that so much converged on the home – working, schooling, quarantining at home, and the long period of lockdown – so one difficult aspect was that our normal place of rest changed and has been impacted by this period,” says McCrae.

The former Lifeline counsellor says now is the right time to consider taking a break from the family home.

“Getting away, even for a day trip, is really valuable,” says McCrae.

It is also a good time to reconnect with some of the activities that were absent during lockdown, he says.

“During the pandemic the things we enjoyed were so much harder to do. We couldn’t go to a cafe and sports were shut down, so during this time of rest it’s important to reconnect with the things that you love to do,” McCrae says.

“And it’s okay to do things just because you enjoy them.”

FOR many of us, the holiday months are a chance to indulge in quality sleep. With many of us short of shut-eye in our normal routines, the end of the year may be a time to pay homage to sleep’s restorative powers.

According to Canberra GP Dr Antonio Di Dio rest is “vital” to maintaining good health. He points out that sleep deprivation can jeopardise our health and wellbeing.

“If you have three to four days with no sleep you’ll start to do and say some crazy things,” Dr Di Dio says. 

“Some people who are really efficient and have achieved some great things in their life have usually figured out how to efficiently rest their brain and body on a regular basis.”

In an age where technology is constantly with us, Dr Di Dio says it’s important to set some boundaries around screen time.

“When some people go to bed, they check their socials with the intention of being on their phone for a few minutes and they end up scrolling for hours,” Dr Di Dio says.

“Sometimes screens are super healthy ways to connect with the world, but sometimes – particularly for teenagers – they steal your rest time.”

During the holidays, Dr Di Dio – also a past president of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) ACT – recommends not allowing family time to be eroded by mobile phones and tablets. 

“If you are going to be with your loved ones during the holidays, then be with them and don’t be checking your phone or emails,” Dr Di Dio says.

“If you can genuinely get away from your work then take advantage of that because even the youngest of children can tell when you are not really there.”

The GP of 27 years says the holidays are also a good time to revisit the work-life balance.

“Balance is important and you have to figure out if the things you are doing are essential or not,” Dr Di Dio says.

“If you are constantly tired and frustrated then there is a good chance that you might be long-term deprived of rest.

“Looking at the way you live your life, shouldn’t be intimidating or scary, it should be a wonderful and exciting thing to do in this holiday period.”