Importance of Self-Care: Taking Time for Yourself During the Holidays
The holidays can be stressful even under normal circumstances and with another pandemic year ending, it’s understandable if this holiday season you need some extra time to yourself to unwind. Between family gatherings, social parties, shopping, and all the extras in between, the holiday season can really start to take its toll if you don’t take the time out of your day to practice some self-care to keep yourself healthy, mentally, and physically. Here are some of the ways that you can take some time to yourself this holiday and ensure that you round out your year in a good headspace.
Make Time for Yourself and Use It Wisely
For most the holidays bring quite an uptick in activities, including extra cooking, entertaining, and shopping, making it harder to take time for yourself. Even people who are more extroverted can benefit from taking a few minutes a day to gather their thoughts and do something that will relax and center them. No matter what you choose to do, whether it be a quick mediation, some exercise, or just a breath of fresh air, make sure to recognize the signs of holiday fatigue and get back on track with some quality time for yourself.
Tune In and Monitor Your Stress Levels
During the holiday season, it’s important to effectively monitor and manage your stress levels. If you find yourself stressing out, try making a note of the stressor and work out ways to approach it, while recognizing the reason behind the negative emotion. Stress is a year-round problem for people, one that is exacerbated by the busy holiday season, but this year you can decide to tune into the emotions you are feeling and find ways to deal with the stress in a healthy way that opens you back up to enjoy the holidays. This approach to holiday stress can benefit you in your everyday life, year-round, shining light on new ways to approach and deal with stress in emotionally mature ways.
Set Boundaries and Just Say No
As the holidays’ approach and tensions are running higher, it is wise to set healthy boundaries with yourself and others while also recognizing when to say no. Set these boundaries with your mental health in mind and decide early on what you are comfortable with. When the holiday season starts steering you towards the edge don’t be afraid to say no. Whether you are politely declining an invitation to a last-minute holiday party or talking yourself out of some extra spending, sometimes a simple ‘no’ can help ease your mind.
Don’t Sweat the Little Things and Pursue Closure
If being a holiday perfectionist is feeling a little overwhelming this year, it is important to master the art of letting go. Letting go of the little things and taking back control of your holiday experience will boost your mental wellbeing and lower overall stress. With the end of the year rapidly approaching, it can be a great time to reflect on the past year and deal with any emotional baggage before the new year begins. Taking some time to self-reflect can be a great way to unwind after the holidays and ensure that you go into the new year in a good headspace.
Be Thankful and Present in the Moment
The holidays are a great time to take stock of the things that are precious to you and express appreciation for them. No matter what brings you joy, being mindful of the things you have in your life to be thankful for can help improve your mental well-being this holiday season.
Taking some time off from thinking about the future or reflecting on the past and really living in the moment can have a profound effect on your mood if you are feeling stressed out. Change your perspective this holiday by expressing gratitude and having a present mindset.
Pamper Yourself, You Deserve It
Treat yourself this holiday season with something special that you enjoy to help boost your mood and mental wellbeing. After all the work that gets put into making sure that the holidays go smoothly for family and friends, you deserve something for all your effort. Use this perfect excuse to pamper yourself as you get ready to begin the new year.
Pursue Self Growth into the New Year
Don’t stay hung up on the past as the first of the year approaches. Take the time to reflect on yourself and ways that you want to improve in the coming year. This self-exploration can be quite cathartic, as you work through emotions manifested throughout the past year of your life while looking forward to the possibilities that the future always brings.
Sleep Well and Stay Hydrated
Perhaps the most important thing you can do this holiday season for your mental health is to ensure that you are getting an adequate amount of sleep and water during the day, to keep your body going through the busiest time of the year. While staying well-rested and hydrated is good advice year-round, it’s especially important during the holidays, as it can be easy to overlook those things when so wrapped up in the festivities.
These are just a few of the ways that you can boost your mental health this holiday season and practice self-care to ensure that you have the energy and emotional stability to brave the season. No matter what method you choose, it’s important that you take the time to tend to your needs, both physical and mental, in a way that takes you into the new year with a positive attitude. Take back control of your holiday experience with these tips and don’t get overwhelmed. If you feel like you have the holiday season locked in with no real trouble, consider extending a hand to a friend or family member that might be struggling. Sometimes a helping hand can be the best gift to give and receive during the holidays.