As the holidays approach, it’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of social gatherings, gift giving, and family obligations. However, it is crucial to remember that self-care should be a top priority this time of year. The holidays can be a stressful and overwhelming time, and you should take the time to promote your physical, mental and emotional well-being.
Dealing with stress and depression around the holidays
Self-care is not a selfish act; it is a necessary part of maintaining your overall health and happiness. By prioritizing self-care, you’ll be better equipped to meet the demands of the holidays and avoid burnout. You will have more energy and resilience to fully participate in the festivities and create meaningful connections with your loved ones.
When you think about self-care, make sure you imagine the activities and practices that will make you healthier. Spending time watching your favorite TV show or going on expensive shopping sprees does not fall under self-care. Instant gratification and overindulgence are useless and unhealthy. Self-care doesn’t mean giving in to indulgence, but rather choosing activities and practices that 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 you enjoy are all examples of self-care.
During the holidays, self-care is often pushed aside. The agendas are getting busier. The pressure mounts as gift shopping, holiday decorating, and tempting treats seem to work against you. How can you make self-care a priority? Sometimes it means making room for reflection, mindfulness and gratitude. Choose to focus on what’s important. This can help ease the tension and busyness of the season.
- Limit your schedule – Self-care may require saying no to some of the activities and events that are busy this season. You will exhaust yourself trying to do everything. Instead, be mindful and present at every event and occasion by selecting fewer to add to your calendar.
- Mindfulness – Spend time practicing deep breathing exercises or grounding activities when stress increases. Consider journaling at the end of each day to help you reflect on and process the busy period. As a group, you can take turns expressing gratitude and gratitude. You may roll your eyes, but it can be a helpful way to bring mindfulness into the season. Or you can go out and volunteer together, a great way to give back and remember your blessings.
- Sleep – The holidays threaten sleep quality in many different ways. Stress and endless to-do lists can keep circling your mind, keeping you from falling asleep. The busy schedule often means later evenings. And with friends and family visiting, you may feel the overwhelming temptation to burn the candle at both ends to truly enjoy the season. Even with all this, it is essential to make sleep a priority. Exercise, mindfulness, and limiting and prioritizing your schedule often help make sleep a priority, too. Whatever you do, make sure you stay in bed for 8 hours every night.
- Excercise – In colder climates, exercise becomes difficult and motivation decreases as the days become shorter and colder. No matter where you live, the holidays often make it difficult to fit in exercise. Still, daily exercise is an important part of self-care. If dedicating 30 minutes to exercising independently every day seems impossible, make exercise part of the party. Ice skating, sledding, group yoga, and dance classes can be fun ways to get moving 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 don’t let this season derail your diet, and keep in mind that healthy eating is part of self-care. Look for healthy twists on holiday classics and choose which holiday favorites are worth the calories. As long as you eat healthy most of the time, a few holiday treats are fine.
Remember, self-care looks different for everyone. It could involve taking a relaxing bath, engaging in your favorite hobby, or simply making time for quiet reflection. The key is to find what works best for you and make it a consistent part of your holiday routine. Making self-care a priority will not only help you feel better, but also help you care for and support those around you.
References:
Mental health awareness – https://www.samhsa.gov/blog/mental-health-awareness-month-time-self-care
NHS – UK – Self Care – Do’s and Don’ts – https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/five-steps-to-mental-wellbeing/
Very good – What is self-care? And why is it important? – https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-self-care-5212781
