five Self-Care tips for the Holiday Season
‘Tis the season to be jolly, not stressed!
In all seriousness, I love this time of the year! Not only is my birthday in November (#TeamSagittarius), I love good food and my family. So Thanksgiving and Christmas are some of my favorite holidays.
But of course, with the holidays coming up, it can also be a stressful time if we are not intentional with our self-care rituals. Our rituals around the holidays should help us be the best version of ourselves so we can be present and truly enjoy this time of the year.
Here are five self-care practices for the holiday season, no matter what holiday you celebrate:
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practical self-care: Avoid overstimulation by taking breaks
Here’s a fun fact about me: I can get overstimulated by my surroundings if I’m not careful and mindful of how I’m feeling. This is especially true around the holiday seasons. Don’t get me wrong: I love this time of the year. I just get overwhelmed by being around a lot of people (especially in my personal space) and having to juggle the smells, loud sounds, etc.
Instead of allowing yourself to feel overstimulated, try these self-care practices:
Take 5 minutes to escape to a quiet place for meditation;
Feeling overwhelmed? Take a deep breath and list three things you’re grateful for in that moment.
If the weather permits, take a walk outside! Nothing like a quick walk to help you recharge your energy.
mental self-care: Reflect/journal
Of course you knew this was coming! It’s no secret that journaling helps us gain self-confidence, track our goals, and reduce stress.
The challenge is to find a journaling or reflection routine that works for you. Whether you’re journaling every night or taking time first thing in the morning to name three things you’re grateful for, this practice will help you cultivate the mindset to survive this often hectic time of the year.
Not sure what to do? Join the Gratitude Challenge.
practical self-care: make a list, check it twice (to avoid stress)
A great way to keep the stress at bay or simply do a better job at managing the stress is to stay organized! It can be hard to remember everything so why put yourself through unnecessary stress? Write it down!
If you’re a member of the planning community, then you probably already make lists to help you stay organized during this time of year. If you’re looking for suggestions, try this task delegation insert from Cloth & Paper! The insert has more than enough space for a long and detailed to-do list. There’s also room to separate important tasks from those other items that are less urgent. Sticky notes like this “list” one from Cloth & Paper are another favorite of mine.
The Notes app in your phone is another great option when you are out running errands or shopping for the holiday season!
digital self-care: take lots of pictures to capture memories, but stay off your phone
My parents have DOZENS of photo albums with pictures over the years. Now all the pictures are on our phones or “on the cloud”. While there’s nothing wrong with that, I think we need to take pictures as often as we used to when we had to go to Walgreens to get the film developed.
At the same time, don’t be like me and take pictures then scroll endlessly on TikTok. Take the picture and get off your phone. (I’m definitely talking to myself here!)
financial self-care: don't overspend!
Sometimes, this suggestion is easier said than done. Our families, whether the ones we are born into or the ones we create, deserve the best! But the stress of overspending is not worth it.
Here are some tips to avoid overspending this year:
Lookout for sales or coupons, especially around Black Friday, Gray Thursday, and Cyber Monday (for all of my fellow Americans out there)
Start saving now if you haven’t already
Try making a gift instead of buying one
There’s nothing worse than ending the holiday season on a high note to then start the new year with stress due to overspending around the holidays. Even if you have to overspend, try keeping it to the lowest amount as possible.
Now it’s your turn to share! What are some ways you practice self-care around the holiday season?