The jolliest time of the year can also sometimes be the most demanding. If you’re not careful the chaos can suck the Christmas joy right out of you before you’ve even had time to wrap a present.
I’ve got a solution for you that will keep you calm, cool, and collected all Christmas season long. It’s all about self-care. In this post I’m sharing why self-care is so important during the holidays, as well as tips on how to prioritize it.
Why Self-Care Is Important:
Taking time for yourself may not seem all that important when you have a million and one things on your to-do-list, but that is when you most-likely need it the most. Self-care is the practice of taking care of yourself in all the ways you need to – physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, etc..
It’s important to be mindful of what areas you are feeling depleted in because once one area suffers, the others soon follow. Lack of self-care can lead to burnout, even sickness, and much more.
That is why you’ve got to prioritize it year-round, but especially this time of year. In this next section I’m giving you some tips to help you practice self-care during the busiest time of year.
5 Self-Care Tips For The Holidays
No matter what type of self-care you are doing, brushing your teeth, journaling, getting a massage, listening to a podcast, going for a check-up, etc., these tips will help you prioritize this time more.
We are pulled in so many different directions this time of year from work commitments, holiday shopping, and Christmas parties. It can get exhausting. That is why you’ll want to put these tips into practice. Some may seem more obvious than others, but each of them are important. They should all be easy to apply to your life as well.
Don’t Overcommit Yourself
There is a lot available to you this time of year. You’ve got holiday markets, potlucks, office/school parties, etc.. That’s not even counting your individual holiday to-do list and traditions.
That’s why it’s important to slow down and think about how much of the festivities that you can realistically do. This may mean saying no to some things. If that means saying yes to your mental health it is worth it though.
For you this may look like only saying yes to one or two social commitments a week. Everyone has their own version of balance during the holiday season. You have to find yours so that you can enjoy yourself without the stress later.
Schedule “You Time” If Needed
If you know that there is a lot going on sometimes it’s helpful to schedule in some special self care time. This can be time for you to do anything that fills your cup, recharges your battery, whatever you need.
One idea could be getting up an hour earlier to have some time alone each day. If you need some social time maybe every Wednesday night you have dinner with a friend. You get the idea.
Bring On The Holiday Cheer
Adding in some holiday cheer to your self-care can be a fun way to get in the Christmas spirit, especially on the days when you are not feeling it. There are many different ways you can do this. Here are a couple ideas.
- Listen to a Christmas song as you brush your hair
- Journal about Christmas memories you’ve had in the past
- Watch a Christmas movie
- Go to a holiday-themed event with a friend
- Light a holiday-scented candle
I’ve personally found that by doing this on days where I’m having a bad mental health day it makes my day a little brighter. I like that there is such a variety of activities to choose from.
You can add some holiday cheer to your day while lying in bed on a bad day, or you can go out and make some great holiday memories if you are feeling good but need some social time.
Know Your Stimulant Limit
This is an important one to remember. If you are the type of person that gets overstimulated by certain things around the holidays, take notice of what your triggers are.
I personally can’t handle when a bunch of things are happening at the same time, so I know to avoid Black Friday shopping, as well as most weekends. If loud noises trigger you, you may not want to go to any big holiday-themed parties.
When you know these triggers ahead of time you can do your best to avoid them. This will make your Christmas season happier and less chaotic. It’s one of the best gifts that you can give yourself, and the people around you.
Start and End The Day With A Grateful Heart
We’ve arrived at the last self care tip for the holidays. This is one that I want you to do everyday, you can even do it past the holidays.
Our last tip is to start and end each day with a grateful heart. You do this by coming up with a list of things that you are grateful for. Three to five is a good amount, but if you can do more, do more. Writing them down is usually what people do but if you want to say them, type them, or anything else, it’s up to you.
The things that you can be grateful for don’t have to be these big items either. You can be grateful for the small moments, like seeing a beautiful sunset, watching the snow fall, showing up to the coffee shop when there was no line, etc.. There are so many things to be grateful for; and showing gratitude is a great self care practice.
Final Thoughts on Self-Care During The Holidays
I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmastime. Remember these self-care tips for when the stress starts building. If you need more self care resources we’ve got some great posts for you to check out below. Let me know how you’re going to prioritize self care this holiday season in the comments.
About the Author
Kelly graduated from Liberty University with a degree in Advertising and Public Relations and a minor in Journalism. Even though it took her a little while to find her career path, she was always meant to be in Communications. She remembers writing poems and songs when she was a little girl and pitching to my parents the reasons why I should have a cell phone when I was a teenager. She currently has a blog (budding-joy.com) where she talks about her weight-loss journey, mental health and personal development. Her hope is to encourage and inspire readers and let them know they are not alone. Reading blog posts like that are what helped her in tough times and she wants to pay it forward. She loves dance fitness, listening to music, and creating layouts in her bullet journal. She’s a big fan of planning, especially when cute notebooks and pens are involved.
Her dream job has changed so much over the years; right now she’d love to co-own a dance studio.
Website: budding-joy.com