Holiday Self-Care
- Dec 12, 2017
- 3 min read
I love Christmas. I love the music, the twinkling lights, and the traditions. I love the holiday baking, Christmas cards, and the candle light service at church. I love sappy Christmas movies, finding the perfect gifts, and decorating my house. I love it all, and it brings me tremendous joy.
It can also bring tremendous stress. I don’t know what it is about putting up and lighting a Christmas tree, but I can guarantee that my family isn’t the only family to have annual conflict around that experience.
It is so easy to get over sugared, overtired, and overstimulated. Throw in extended family and extended expectations, and it’s pretty easy to see why the holidays can be both the most magical and most stressful time of the year.
Because I love Christmas so much, it is easy for me to fall prey to Christmas stress. I want things to be perfect and memorable, and I forget that I am dealing with human beings (including myself) that have natural, human limitations. I forget that it’s not my job to manage other people’s emotions and expectations.
It is, however, my job to manage my own emotions and expectations. It can be easy to get so caught up in the flow and rush of the season that we forget to stop and take care of ourselves, forget to check in with what we really need and want. We get all out of our rhythms, which makes it harder to stay present and connected and really enjoy the holiday season.
So, this Christmas, let’s all give ourselves and each other permission to take care of ourselves, and to take care of ourselves well. Let’s give ourselves the freedom to take naps, take walks, and drink a hot cup of tea.
In case you need some reminders of what holiday self-care might look like, here is a short list to get you started.
One of the building blocks of self-care is sleep. It is ok to leave things undone so that you can go to bed. When you are well rested, you are more able to be present in the moment, to manage your emotions, and to make good decisions. It is easier to brush off the rude comment from a relative or to know which non-essential activity to let go. Sleep is the foundation of self-care, and you have permission to make sleep a priority.
When we are out of routine, it is easy to completely let go of our regular, healthy eating habits. Give yourself permission to enjoy your favorite holiday treats, but try to keep treats as treats. If you’re eating Christmas cookies all day every day, they don’t feel special anymore. Indulge intentionally. Try and throw in extra “strong foods” when you can, and remember to drink water.
When things get busy, it can be easy to forget to check-in with yourself emotionally. How are you feeling today? Are you doing the things you want to be doing? Are there things you would like to add or cut out? Try to spend a few quiet moments every morning and evening checking in with yourself.
It can also be easy to forget to check in with the key people in your life. Try and stay connected with the relationships that are grounding and life-giving for you. Communicate what your are feeling. Laugh as much as possible.
Give yourself a break. You may need to step away from a party, an event, or an activity that you don’t have the margin for this year. That does not mean you don’t love or value the people you share the activity with; it means that this year it doesn’t line up with your needs. Give yourself permission to miss something in order to do the things you need to do to recharge; whether it be a book, a walk, a nap, or Netflix.
When things get bright and busy, it can be easy to be so flooded with activity and expectations that we quit taking care of ourselves. It’s a dangerous gamble to make. We need to honor our hearts, our bodies, and our needs so that we can fully enter in and enjoy the holiday season.
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