As the holiday season approaches, it’s easy to get swept up in the whirlwind of social gatherings, gift-giving, and family obligations. However, it’s crucial to remember that self-care should be a top priority during this time of year. The holiday season can be a stressful and overwhelming period, and you must take the time to nurture your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Managing Stress and Depression Around the Holidays
Self-care is not a selfish act; it’s a necessary component of maintaining your overall health and happiness. When you prioritize self-care, you’re better equipped to handle the demands of the holiday season and avoid burnout. You’ll have more energy and resilience to fully engage in the festivities and create meaningful connections with your loved ones.
When you think about self-care, be sure you are picturing the activities and practices that make you healthier. Bingeing your favorite TV show or going on an expensive shopping trip do not qualify as self-care. Instant gratification and overindulgence are unhelpful and unhealthy. Self-care does not mean giving in to indulgences, but rather choosing activities and practices that will recharge and refresh you.
Self-care is habits and practices that improve your health. In broad categories, self-care means prioritizing your health through diet, exercise, sleep, mindfulness, and connecting with others. Getting outside to enjoy nature, spending time with friends and family, reading a book, or learning a new skill that you enjoy are all examples of self-care.
During the holidays, self-care often gets pushed to the side. Schedules get busier. Pressure grows as buying gifts, decorating for the holidays, and tempting treats seem to work against you. So, how can you make self-care a priority? Sometimes it means making space for reflection, mindfulness, and gratitude. Choose to focus on what’s important. This can help relieve the strain and busyness of the season.
- Limiting your schedule – Self-care may take saying no to some of the activities and events that crowd this season. You will wear yourself out if you try to do everything. Instead, be mindful and present in each event and occasion by selecting fewer to add to your calendar.
- Mindfulness – Spend time practicing deep breathing exercises or grounding activities when stress rises. Consider journaling at the end of each day to help reflect on and process the busy season. As a group, you can take turns expressing gratitude and thankfulness. You may get an eye roll, but it can be a helpful way to bring mindfulness into the season. Or you can head out and volunteer together, a great way to give back and keep your blessings in mind.
- Sleep – The holiday season threatens quality sleep in many different ways. Stress and never-ending to-do lists may keep circling in your head, preventing you from getting to sleep. The busy schedule often means later nights. And with visits from friends and family, you may feel an overwhelming temptation to burn the candle on both ends in order to truly enjoy the season. Even in the face of all of this, making sleep a priority is essential. Exercise, mindfulness, and limiting and prioritizing your schedule often help keep sleep a priority as well. Whatever you do, be sure to block off 8 hours of time in bed each night.
- Exercise – In colder climates, exercise becomes difficult and motivation flags as the days grow shorter and colder. Wherever you live, the holiday season often makes it difficult to fit exercise in. Yet, daily exercise is an important part of self-care. If it seems impossible to carve out 30 minutes each day to exercise on your own, make exercise part of the party. Ice skating, sledding, group yoga and dance classes can be fun ways to move while spending time with the ones you love.
- Diet – From Thanksgiving pies to Christmas cookies and holiday treats, the holidays are full of tempting detours from your healthy eating plan. But this season shouldn’t derail your diet, and keep in mind that healthy eating is a part of self-care. Look for healthy spins on holiday classics and choose which holiday favorites are worth the calories. As long as you eat healthily most of the time, a few holiday treats are ok.
Remember, self-care looks different for everyone. It may involve taking a relaxing bath, engaging in your favorite hobby, or simply carving out time for quiet reflection. The key is to find what works best for you and make it a consistent part of your holiday routine. By making self-care a priority, you’ll not only feel better but also be better able to support and care for those around you.
References:
Mental Health Awareness – https://www.samhsa.gov/blog/mental-health-awareness-month-time-self-care
NHS – UK – Self- Care – Dos and Don’ts – https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/five-steps-to-mental-wellbeing/
Very Well – What is Self Care? And Why is it Important? – https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-self-care-5212781
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