How to Prioritize Self Care During the Holiday Season
The holiday season can often feel overwhelming with obligations, family gatherings, and a never-ending to-do list. The chances of getting stressed out, snippy, and outright frustrated and angry with those around you are pretty high.
You see the lack of “holiday spirit” in the shopping malls, the post office, and traffic along the way. Everyone is trying to get all the expected things done that we forget what this time of year is all about.
It’s about reflection, gratitude, and celebration. No matter what spiritual practice you follow, winter lends itself to introspection and gathering family near. It comes from thousands of years of humans just trying to survive the winter months.
Mindful Ways to Prioritize Self-Care This Season
We gather, feast, and comfort each other so that we can all survive.
In our modern world, survival is not top on our list anymore. But we still feel the calling of gathering and sharing what abundance we may have. We still wish for each other to have a prosperous new year. And we still celebrate all that has happened in the past year.
In the hustle and bustle of our society, we’ve forgotten to slow down and make sure WE are ok. It’s all “for the kids” or “for the family” and we neglect ourselves. It’s time to remember us in the equation, to practice some self-care and mindfulness in order to bring our best selves to the party.
Simple Practices to Help You Prioritize Self-Care
I’ve heard a definition of mindfulness as an “awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally.” I like this definition, because it’s looking for facts, not the stories we tell ourselves.
Instead of thinking, “I didn’t get that thing done! UGH!” (aka story), look around and see what really happened. Chances are it was the 100th thing on the list and because of time, people, and mental, emotional, and physical traffic, it was impossible to make it to the place or get things in order to make that thing happen.
Why It Matters to Prioritize Self-Care During the Holidays
This is a good time to become mindful. To step back and look at the other 99 things you accomplished during the day. Those things matter too! And you deserve to be acknowledged and celebrated for doing them.
So, take some time for yourself to reflect and rest. Don’t sweep your accomplishments under the rug. Take a moment to fill your cup literally and figuratively.
Step back, take a breath, and look at your day from an observer’s perspective. If your friends, children, or other folks in your life were to have done all the things, would you celebrate them or knock them down for not doing that one last thing? Have some compassion for yourself and do a little 10-Second Bootie Wiggle™ to reset your system.
As you move through this season, give yourself permission to step back and treat your well being as part of the celebration. The more nourished you feel, the more fully you can show up for the people you love, and for the person you are becoming.
If you want a simple, joy filled way to reset your energy and bring more light into these busy days, come join us for the Holiday Bootie Wiggle™ Challenge. Together, we will shake off the stress, fill your cup, and create a little magic for yourself during the holidays.
