Self-Care for the Holiday Season

Self-Care for the Holiday Season

Between travel, social gatherings, cooking, and planning, you’re bound to experience a range of emotions during the holiday season. While most will be positive, too many obligations can take a toll on your mental, emotional, and even physical health, especially if you don’t take care of yourself.

The holidays mark a season of giving, which should include giving back to yourself. Amid the chaos, be sure to make time to tend to your needs and indulge in the joyful season. To start the holidays off right, here are five simple ways you can practice seasonal self-care:

1. Avoid Over-Scheduling

Although you may feel the need to attend every social event, it’s okay to say no when you don’t feel up to leaving your home. Take time to organize your schedule, and be thoughtful about which invitations you accept. No matter what, be sure to make time for family traditions, work, and self-care. Then, determine which other activities, if any, to attend.

Look at your calendar, and determine how many events you’re comfortable with attending each week. Some people are comfortable with making plans every night while others may need to set aside nights for relaxing at home. As a general rule of thumb, it’s best to decline an invite if you think an event will be more stressful than enjoyable, or if you’re not totally committed to going.

Learning to say no is a great way to recognize and respect your personal boundaries. Instead of feeling guilty for turning down invitations, consider mindful scheduling as a form of self-care This is essential for your mental and physical well being.

1. Care for Your Complexion

A dry or uneven complexion may indicate you’re feeling stressed. Breakouts, flare-ups, and dark circles under your eyes aren’t uncommon during the holiday season, but they can cause additional unnecessary stress.

You’ll probably put extra thought into your makeup routine this season. But, as you bring out the festive shades, it’s also important to remember to pay attention to what lies beneath your makeup. Practicing proper skin-care will help you feel more confident and in control, no matter how hectic the holidays may get.

By tending to your skin-care needs, you’ll ensure you not only look but also feel your best. Pencil in time at the beginning and end of each day to care for your complexion. Use a daily cleanser, and consider applying an acne treatment to alleviate breakouts and ensure a clear face.

1. Protect Your Sleep

Seasonal activities like shopping, cooking, and cleaning can leave you feeling mentally, physically, and emotionally drained. With so much going on during the holidays, you may find yourself losing out on some much-needed shut-eye. However, a good night’s sleep is essential for stress management and maintaining your overall health.

No matter how packed your schedule may get, aim for a full 8 hours each night to ensure you wake up feeling energized. Establish a consistent nightly routine that helps you prepare for sleep, and practice mindful activities, like meditation and deep breathing, to relax your mind and body when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

You can also use a sleep tracking app to help assess your quality of rest and identify any lifestyle factors that could be disrupting your sleep cycle, such as stress, caffeine intake, and diet. By monitoring your sleep habits, you’ll be able to determine unhealthy patterns and make the necessary adjustments to ensure a full night’s rest.

1. Forget Perfection

If you envision everything going perfectly this year, the holidays can quickly become a stressful and demanding time. You may want everything to go to plan. However, in most cases, things won’t go exactly the way you want them to, and that’s okay!

To truly enjoy the holiday season with friends and family, you must let go of perfection and show gratitude for the things you have. You don’t have to buy the perfect gifts, cook the best meals, or wear the most expensive outfits to have a great holiday season. Instead, you should appreciate all that’s going right.

You can effectively manage your need for control by delegating responsibilities to others, establishing new traditions, accepting help when it is offered, and practicing gratitude. In addition, you should accept the fact that some things aren’t within your control. Focus on managing what you can, and don’t sweat the rest.

1. Get Moving

It’s hard enough to motivate yourself to workout, and with the busyness of the holiday season, it’s easy to push exercise to the bottom of your list of priorities. However, regular exercise can help you reduce stress, boost your mood, and burn off any extra calories you may be consuming.

If you’re traveling or are unsure of your schedule, plan ahead by learning a few exercises you can do anywhere. You should also figure out where you can exercise. Call ahead and see if your hotel has an exercise room, or find a trail near your family’s house where you can get your steps in.

Don’t stress if you only have a few minutes to dedicate to exercise. Plan simple workouts that don’t require a ton of space or equipment, and do what you can with what you have. You can always return to your normal workout routine once the holidays are over!

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Being proactive about self-care and tending to your needs first will help you fully enjoy the season with family and friends.