Self-Care During the Holidays

The holidays- the time of year that is supposed to be full of joy, love, and time spent with friends and family. What we don’t talk or think about when it comes to the holidays are all the ways that we forget about self-care, and the stress that we put ourselves through. The past couple of years I have started really focusing on self-care this time of year and I want to share some of my recommendations for self-care with you.

Stay active this time of year. Exercise is one of the best ways to destress. It doesn’t have to be an hour-long gym workout or a group exercise class, it can be as simple as a 30-minute walk or a bike ride around the neighborhood. You’ll feel refreshed and reenergized!

Attend fun events that you enjoy! How do you decide which events to go to when you have 15 different holiday party invitations?! Pick the ones that you will enjoy most and pass on the ones that you weren’t exactly thrilled about. It’s okay to say no, thanks! This goes for family events too. Surround yourself with people you enjoy spending time with! This advice goes beyond the holidays too.

Spend time planning for 2019. If you’re like me, you like planning and organization. Spend this time of year setting goals for yourself, personally and professionally, for next year. Reflect on what positive things happened and what things you’d like to leave behind in 2018. Doing this ahead of 2019 will allow you to bring in the new year feeling prepared.

Keep healthier foods front and center. You’ve likely noticed that you feel better when you are eating healthier foods, so the holidays are no time to leave your fruits and vegetables behind. Incorporate these into holiday dishes you may be making as well. Remember to stay hydrated too!

Get some sleep! Are you sleeping the recommended amount each night- 8 hours? If not, now is the time to start so that you can ring in 2019 with good sleeping habits. Remove distractions and allow your body to tell you when it’s time to rest. Getting enough sleep benefits your mental, physical, and emotional health!

So take a deep breath and take advantage all of the things this time of year has to offer! Take some time for yourself and practice self-care so that on the evening of December 31st you feel refreshed and happy, and not burnt out and grumpy.