The holiday season is here – also known as “the most wonderful time of the year!” A time to catch up with friends and loved ones, decorate, host parties, bake cookies, shop ‘til we drop, attend festive events … and that’s jus the first week of December!
Unfortunately, the busyness of all this wonderful time can also be incredibly draining, both physically and emotionally. The good news is, we can plan ahead now to give ourselves the self-care we may need in order to enjoy the coming weeks of festivities.
Here are seven self-care tips to embrace this season so you can stress less and enjoy the holidays more!
1. Acknowledge the busy-ness of the holidays.
For many, holiday fun can also be a very stressful time of the year. Remember, not all stress is bad. Stress does increase performance, but only up to a point. Stress management is the key to coping effectively and getting through holiday stress.
2. Courageously practice saying “no” and give yourself permission for self-care.
Remember, you and your time, money, and emotional/psychological/social needs matter and are important. Our culture tends to encourage exhaustion with a “keep going, keep working, keep giving” mindset – these are the kinds of messages that drain us during the holidays. It takes courage to buck the trend and exercise your “NO” muscle. When we take care of ourselves, we have more to give, and we give out of fullness, not exhaustion.
3. Take moments for yourself every day.
It can feel selfish to take time to relax. Yet good stress management requires daily intentional down time. And when we give to ourselves, we have more to give to others. Set aside a few minutes every day to reflect, pray, relax, take a walk, read, watch some Netflix or even do nothing.
Make room every morning and evening for daily quiet time. Reflecting on our place in this world is very powerful and can motivate us to give and connect with others.
4. Savor the season …
There are so many sights, sounds, smells and tastes to enjoy this time of year. The good news? You have full permission to enjoy them completely! Research suggests that focusing our attention in this way (also known as mindfulness) helps us to truly relax.
5. …But be sure to prioritize eating healthy, getting enough sleep and exercising.
It’s tempting to fill up on cookies and treats during the holiday season, sacrifice sleep to take on more holiday projects and festivities, and ditch your regular workout routine. However, good nutrition, adequate sleep and exercise are foundational to your ability to manage the holiday stress. So revisit tip number two above, and remember to take the very best care of YOU!
6. Moderate your expectations during the holidays.
Yes, as mentioned above, healthy living includes moderating your eating and drinking. However, also think about moderating your expectations of the season and yourself. Striving for perfection is exhausting! Instead, strive for “good enough” instead of stressing out to create the “perfect” holiday tree, meal, gift experience, etc.
Also, think about moderating your use of electronic devices. Favorite social media sites like Facebook and Instagram are wonderful ways of connecting to others. At the same time, we compare ourselves to all of the perceived “perfection” posted by others and deceive ourselves into feeling like we don’t measure up.
7. Connect with others.
Remember–the real purpose of the holidays is to connect with loved ones, friends and God. We need to love and be loved. So as you’re making your holiday plans, focus on how your activities can help you make emotional connections. The more intimacy we have, the more resilient we are.
