Oh, the holidays! The air is crisp and smells of pumpkin, cinnamon, or peppermint greet us in the most unexpected places. Stores begin to transition before our eyes into beautiful shades of red and green with twinkling lights galore. It leaves us with a feeling of warmth, happiness, and sometimes, if we are not mindful, panic.
The season of extra giving, spending, prepping, baking, wrapping, and indulging can lead to feeling overwhelmed, if you aren’t careful. Are you ready? Really ready? That is to say, in your already full life of work, housekeeping, taxi driving, activity attending, meal planning, caregiving, etc. are you mentally prepared for the extra work that comes with the holidays?
As grownups, we realize that the grand puppet master of the holiday extravaganza that our family enjoys is, often, us. Our normal lives require a great balancing act as projects pile up, calendars are packed with activities and inboxes remind us of upcoming or (gulp) overdue tasks. In everyday life, adding one or two more items to our to-do list could cause a little healthy stress. However, when we add in the sprinkle of holiday prep, and expectations, panic and overwhelm just might be sitting behind door number two, if we aren’t mentally prepared.
Here’s a list of Self-Care Dos and Don’ts This Holiday Season you must remember. Your mindset depends on it!
Don’t:
1. Skip meals or go on a junk food only diet – as tempting as it may be to swing by the drive-thru a few times a week, or to ignore your growling stomach, remember to nourish yourself with a healthful diet so you don’t end up getting sick.
2. Forgo the gym– when you are racing the clock, regular exercise is often the first thing to go. Remember when you work out, those happy serotonin endorphins release, giving you energy and making your outlook on life a little brighter.
3. Ditch your pals – when we can’t see past our own busyness, we may say no to a lunch invitation, a happy hour, or a gabfest. Remember, your pals know you best and make your heart light. They also may be able to offer advice or strategies for tackling the stressors you face.
Do:
1. Find time for yourself– although it may sound like a luxury you cannot afford, taking time to nourish your mind and body will help you to be more productive. In your over-packed schedule, carve out time to do something just for you and make it sacred. You work hard and deserve it!
2. Take a break– when we are overly stressed, our skills are not sharp, our focus is not clear, and our efforts are often counterproductive. Pay attention to the warning signs your body gives you. Take time for breaks to gain clarity and focus. There is a reason you are stressed. You do a lot, you don’t need to earn breaks, but you should thank yourself once in a while.
3. Breathe– simple breathing exercises make a huge impact on our psyche. You can do it anywhere at any time. It’s a guaranteed calming device.
For some, the idea of self-care seems indulgent. It’s a reward only to be cashed in on if they have made sacrifices, completed their list of to-do items, and the calendar says there is an opening. We say that’s crazy talk! Find something to help you care for yourself. There’s only one of you so be thankful to yourself for all that you accomplish daily. Take a walk, schedule a massage, do something wacky and fun. If you don’t, you risk falling victim to the dreaded holiday overwhelm instead of holiday joy.
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