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We’re living in incredibly challenging times, and our mental health is one of the main things to get hit,” says Dr Rangan Chatterjee, who is the resident doctor on BBC Breakfast and a bestselling author.

“The situation is particularly hard for women, because if both parents are working it still often falls to mum to care for the children. And if you’re stressed out with a work deadline too, it’s easy to put that stress onto the kids.

“On top of everything else, a lot of the things we normally do to manage our stress levels – like going out for a coffee – aren’t feasible. It’s more important than ever to look after ourselves.”

To manage your stress levels and stay as clear-headed as possible, Dr Chatterjee recommends maintaining your normal morning routine. And when you’re working from home, schedule an all-important lunch break.

We all get busy, especially in the run up to Christmas and New Year, and it’s easy to push aside and neglect our self-care, relaxation and important de-stressing down time. It leaves you feeling almost guilty, doesn’t it, to take some me time when you’ve got last minute gifts to buy, finishing touches to put on your Christmas table setting and those extra chores or errands are piling up on your to-do list – but Dr Rangan Chatterjee, a physician and leading holistic health expert, has reminded us just how important scheduling in this personal down time really is.