Holiday Self-Care Amid the Festive Hustle

Whether you're preparing for Christmas, Hanukkah, or Yule, the pressure can feel immense. Gathering presents, planning out feasts, navigating personal relationships…it’s all so much!

It’s important to schedule in some self-care along the way…but it’s important that said self-care works for you! Don’t just do the everyday, everyone does it things. Find what brings you joy, peace, and a bit of relaxation.

Exploring Self-Care That Works for You

Not everyone is the same. There are things that work for 95% of the population and are good guidelines to start with if you don’t know what works just yet. Things like:

• Meditation

• Massage

• Walk in nature

• Snuggle with a warm drink and a good book

But there could be other things that relax you and feed your energy. Things like:

• Beating the snot out of the boxing bag

• Dancing like a mad woman

• Howling at the moon in the middle of the night

(I’ll let you guess which two I like to do 😜)

There are so many ways to take care of yourself and lots of advice on how to do it. So, I encourage you to explore and experiment with those tried-and-true methods as well as coming up with your own version of self-care.

Making Holiday Self-Care Personal

Take some time to reflect on things that made you feel comfortable and relaxed. Remember those times that you did something small to or for yourself that made you feel proud and aligned.

I say to or for yourself, because things like taking care of your skin, teeth, hair, or nails are things you do to yourself and things like massage, nature walks, or dancing are things you do for yourself.

And remember, that what works for others may or may not work for you. You just have to give it a try.

For example, aromatherapy is a wonderful thing…but…not all scents are created equal. I personally have a strong reaction to most scents. There are only a few that I can tolerate before my body just rebels and I can’t breathe. Vanilla and Mint are my two favorites.

Now most people want Lavender when they sit to relax and this, for me, is the absolute WORST smell on the face of the planet. I’d rather smell a skunk than Lavendar. In fact, most flower smells I find appalling.

This example shows that what the majority of people enjoy doesn’t always work for everyone…and that’s OK. Go out and find what works for you, even if it’s against the grain of what works for everyone else.

Why Holiday Self-Care Matters

You are your own person, and you have your own chemistry and experiences. Find what works for you and schedule it in this holiday season. 

It doesn’t have to take a long time. Just a minute to go outside and howl and dance, breathe in some crisp fresh air, and get centered before you head back into the wonderful madhouse of family and friends that the holidays bring.

You’ll show up better for yourself, and your family and friends will thank you for it (eventually 🤣).