The holidays are family gatherings, unending shopping, a plethora of social groups, and a source of stressful situations for many. Since your calendar can quickly fill up at this period of the year, it is critical to make plans for regular self-care.
Self-care is more than just pampering your body with a rubdown, spa treatment, or yoga session. It also entails paying attention to the feelings, emotional reactions, preconceptions, and interrelations. It implies that you will perform optimally in all aspects of your life.
According to Psychology Today, “The most wonderful time of the year is known to prompt joy, but the reality is that it may evoke stress as well. While this season is often associated with splendid sentiments of love and happiness, the holidays may also spark unpleasant feelings for many others. From Thanksgiving preparations until we ring in the New Year, self-care is essential to protect yourself from the holiday blues.”
Why is self-care important?
When I was in my recovery process, the concept of self-care was foreign to me. I assumed it had something to do with taking regular showers and cleaning your teeth. Setting aside time to care for yourself, rest, and replenish your energy levels were foreign to me.
Eventually, self-care essentially means taking the time to attend to your own needs, whether they are mental, spiritual, sentimental, or physiological. Self-care refers to various activities that positively impact your perception of wellbeing and can be an excellent way of managing any mental health situations and sustaining wellbeing throughout your recovery.
What matters is that these activities help you avoid difficult, stressful situations. They could also be used as a component of a rescue package if you are feeling incredibly fatigued or pressurized.
Tips For Self-Care During Holidays
According to LifeHack, “Holidays are a recipe for burn-out for many of us. The good news is that we can change the way we approach the celebrations and make sure that we take care of our needs during this hectic time. Christmas is forgiving. This year, give to yourself first to be emotionally and physically satisfied to give to others.”
1| Understand The Hustle And Bustle Of The Season
For many people, the holiday season can be a difficult period of the year. Keep in mind that not all stress is harmful. Stress improves performance, but only to a spot. Stress management is essential for effectively coping with and overcoming holiday stress.
2| Start Permitting Yourself To Take Care Of Yourself
Keep in mind that you and your time, finances, and emotional wellbeing are valuable. Our culture encourages exhaustion by encouraging us to “continue pushing, work hard, constantly give” – these are the sorts of messages that deplete us during the holidays. It takes guts to go against the grain and flex your “NO” muscle. We have much more to give when we start taking care of ourselves, and we offer from a place of wholeness rather than fatigue.
3| Enjoy The Season
Close the Christmas tree, a family relaxes and laughs together.
This time of year offers many scenic views, tones, aromas, and flavors to enjoy. The good news is. You have full authorization to relish them to the fullest! According to research, fixing our attention in this manner (also known as mindfulness) allows us to unwind genuinely.
4| Make Contact With Others
Remember that the true meaning of the holidays is to reconnect with family members, peers, and God. We need to love and be loved as humans. So, as you schedule your holiday activities, consider how they will help you make emotional connections. The greater our intimacy, the more stable we are.