Self-care during the holidays is so crucial to maintaining balance and health. It may feel like one more thing to add to your plate, but in reality, self-care actually makes your plate bigger.
In today's blog post, I asked a life coach to share her top 5 tips for self-care during the holidays.
Self-Care During the Holidays
Self-care during the holidays can be hard. A lot of times I tell myself I'll just power through it and self-care can wait, but my last good nerve usually has other plans for me.
If I don't stop to make time for self-care, there are many things that begin happening to me that aren't pretty; you can check that blog post out here, I wrote it last year during the holiday season when I went a month without doing any self-care.
This year I refuse to let myself get to that point again. I interviewed Laura Weldy, who is a life coach and speaker at The Well Supported Woman. She is all about creating confidence, clarity and connection through self-care. I asked her 5 questions that I personally have regarding self-care and the holidays, and you can read her awesome advice and tips below.
To see her questions and my answers on self-care during the holidays, check out her post here.
1. What are your favorite ways to stay balanced during the holidays when it's easy to feel pulled in so many different directions and never-ending to-do lists?
My favorite ways to stay balanced are to buckle down on my usual practices and make them more non-negotiable than ever. Isn't it frustrating how easily self-care goes out the window at the times we need it most?
I try to stick to my me time, regular baths and meditation. I also have noticed that I really step up my essential oil game during the holiday season - it seems to be a season where smells and comfort take top priority!
My favorite self-care practice always is to keep my to do list as short as possible. I have to be sure not to set myself up for failure with an impossible list. Instead, I choose to believe that there's always tomorrow, and whatever is the utmost priority will get done in perfect timing.
2. Is there anything specific that you do to ground yourself before going to a busy, possibly draining holiday function?
I have a few exercises I love, especially as I tend to travel a lot during this season. I am also sure to take a few comfort items on the road with me, so I feel cozy regardless of my environment. For me this means crystals, a tarot deck, and maybe a candle or sage bundle. I also HAVE to bring my favorite notebook and pen so I can continue with my journalling and note taking routine.
Last year I spent an entire month at home with my family, and one of the best things I did to prepare was to do a story audit. Before I went home, I wrote out every story that I believed my family held about me - aka, a list of alllll my potential triggers. Writing them out was super liberating, and it helped me to be on the lookout for when I was falling into believing the story to be true. Everything felt much less charged because I'd already prepared myself mentally and talked down some irrational fears.
3. How can we keep our personal/emotional/spiritual boundaries strong and healthy during the holiday season? (For example I'm going to be around certain relatives that trigger me in different ways, what's a good way to respect my boundaries and keep the peace at the same time?).
Keep to your routine! Make sure you're taking care of you the same way you would in your natural environment. I also highly recommend some kind of energetic cleansing after being around people who trigger you. It can be as simple as taking a hot shower as you mentally release all the frustrating moments of the day.
Remember that nothing that happens to you during the holiday season means anything about you - you are still YOU, and humans are prone to being triggered. Do what you can to cultivate your own internal peace before you allow the outside forces in for the day.
4. What does your self-care routine look like during the busy holiday season?
For me, it means scheduling in a lot of decompression and alone time. I am a natural introvert so if I know that a season will require lots of interpersonal time, I try to build up my resilience reservoir ahead of time (does that make sense?).
I am proactive about protecting my energy with meditation and with practicing daily detachment from annoying situations. Also, the end of the year always brings about a spike in journalling and reflection for me, which I think can be really helpful self-care!
5. If someone is super short on time and very busy, especially this holiday season, what do you suggest for small acts of self-care they can fit in here and there?
You've gotta find what works for you! But for me, the best small acts of self-care are sticking to my regular routine, getting extra sleep, upping my vitamin intake to guard against sickness, and being very intentional about the busy times.
I try to ask myself before I get into the hectic season - what do I really desire out of my visit home/holiday deadline/sales window? And how can I appreciate this in the moment, rather than just later upon reflection? It's only a season after all - so have compassion for yourself and know that there's an end in sight!
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed this article and found something to take away with you.
To receive my weekly, self-care focused email that inspires you to go deeper inside the magic that is you, sign up for the Self-Care Sunday emails.
With love,
Jessica
Jessica Dimas is the author of Sacred Self-Care for Moms Guide + Worksheet Bundle. Connect with her on Facebook and Instagram for more inspiration and updates.
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