Self-care tips to optimize your holiday season
It’s supposed to be “the most wonderful time of the year”. But between cooking meals, buying gifts, and hosting parties, it can feel like the most stressful time of year. That is why it is super important to take time for self-care and self-love during the holidays. We want to help you by giving you 10 tips on how to take care of YOU this holiday season and minimize your stress.
Meditate. Meditating is a fantastic tool for helping you stay focused on the present and be self-aware. There are tons of apps out there that offer short, guided meditations to help you center yourself and keep calm through the holiday hustle and bustle. Click here for a 10 minute guided meditation.
Be Active. Fitting in some exercise can help you relieve stress and anxiety, boost energy, and work off those holiday treats. So try to fit in physical activity where you can. It doesn’t have to be super-intense or take a ton of time. Even five-minute walks around the block can help increase your overall stamina. Here are 10 simple desk stretches to help you stay active throughout the day.
Recite Affirmations. Affirmations are another great way to center yourself and align with your intention for how you want to feel and show up for yourself and others during the holiday season. Try reciting and/or writing affirmations over and over when you need a reset. Click here for a list of affirmations.
Take Action. Procrastination can be a major source of stress and anxiety, so do yourself a favor and get as prepared and organized for the holidays as possible. Decorate early. Aim to complete your holiday shopping in early December and do as much of it as you can online away from the crowds. Plan your holiday meals and purchase as many nonperishable ingredients as you can in advance. Do whatever you can to avoid the last-minute craziness.
Rest. It may be tempting to stay up late shopping, wrapping gifts, celebrating, and cooking/baking, but adequate sleep is critical to feel our best and help keep our immune system strong.
Laugh. It’s no secret that laughing feels good. But did you know it can actually provide stress relief? Laughter shuts down the release of stress hormones like cortisol and triggers the production of feel-good neurochemicals like dopamine.
Pamper Yourself. The holidays are a great excuse to treat yourself to a little pampering. Get a new ‘do, go for a relaxing massage, give yourself a manicure, or just do something else for yourself.