12 Ways to Take Care of Yourself Over the Holidays
by Courtney Carver
If you’ve ever gotten sick or felt rundown over the holidays, you’ve experienced the fallout of holiday stress. We could attribute it to the weather, or being around more people, but we can’t ignore that the increase of colds, illness, and fatigue over the holidays is directly connected to the stress that comes with this magical time of year.
In November and December you are likely-
• socializing more
• spending more
• doing more
• eating more
• sleeping less
If self-care doesn’t come naturally, and you still insist on putting everything else before your own needs, you probably go into over-serving mode during the holidays. You go out of your way to make sure everything is ready, and everyone has the “best holiday ever.” Sound familiar?
If you fall into that camp, or if you are just interested in taking extra good care of yourself over the next 2 months, try one of these 12 simple ways to take care of yourself during the holidays.
1. Morning Routine
If every day, you make a little time for yourself first thing, you can move through your day with more grace and intention. Your morning routine might only be 5 minutes long to start, but even that will help. Use the time to sit quietly with a cup of tea, meditate, journal, walk, or include other activities that feed your body, mind, heart, and soul.
2. Candlelight
I love listening to music with candles burning or just sitting quietly in candlelight. As the days get darker, add light to your day.
3. Take a walk
Go outside and take a walk. Bundle up if it’s cold and head out with the intention of noticing the magic. Don’t worry about burning calories or tracking steps, just enjoy yourself.
4. Eat well
Indulge in your favorite holiday treats, but eat really well during 85-90% of the time. Eat greens at every meal, even breakfast. Don’t eat the junk you don’t really care about just because it’s there, and savor the first few bites of your all time favorites. You’re an adult now so you don’t have to clear your plate, try everything, or eat as if you’ll never get another chance. This isn’t the only time of year to eat cookies. (that’s mostly a reminder for me)
5. Write
Emotions run high during the holidays, but much of what runs through our heads never needs to be said out-loud. Instead, write it down. Write down how you are feeling, and what makes you happy, sad, angry, or frustrated. Putting it on paper gives you a chance to clear your mind and move through your day with less bottled up stress.
6. Nap
Give your body and brain a chance to recharge on those go-go-go holiday marathon days. Even 20 minutes will make a big difference.
7. Respect your budget
Once you figure out what you can spend on extras like holiday gifts, events, and other holiday things, honor that. If you splurge now, you pay even more later. And later comes sooner than you think.
8. Only decorate with your favorite things
If you’ve been accumulating holiday decor for years, or decades, chances are your most meaningful, favorite things don’t get a chance to stand out. Start by only decorating with your favorite things instead of all the things. If that resonates with you, box up the rest or donate it if you love the simpler holiday wonderland you create.
9. Breathe
Frustrated? Breathe in. Breathe out. Worried? Breathe in. Breathe out. Overwhelmed? Breathe in. Breathe out. Confused? Breathe in. Breathe out. Exhausted? Breathe in. Breathe out. Start there and you can often avoid over-thinking and over-reacting.
10. Be grateful
Directing more of our attention towards gratitude for the things that make our lives wonderful are scientifically proven to make us healthier, more energetic, less stressed and anxious, and help us get better sleep.
11. Let go
There are benefits to moving through life, work, and relationships with a lighter step, a lighter look, and a lighter heart. If we want to be light, we have to let go.
12. Full stop
If you’ve already overdone it, consider a full stop. Sometimes backing off isn’t enough. Take a whole day to yourself and vow to do nothing more than take care of yourself all day long.
Take care of yourself over the holidays. It’s the best gift you can give yourself and everyone you love.