The holidays can easily be described as the most stressful time of the year. Many will agree that the month of December takes a toll on one’s mental health. Lifestyle habits can be difficult to sustain throughout the holidays. They frequently involve a break from regularity, a time to disregard our finances, calendars, substance tolerance, dietary sensitivities, and any consistent self-care. Keeping one’s sanity during this period might be practically impossible. Even though self-care is the last thing on your mind as Christmas approaches, it is critical to remember that in order to make the people you care about happy by spending quality time with them, you must first spend quality time with yourself. By taking proper care of yourself, you ensure that you can be emotionally and physically present to enjoy this wonderful season with your loved ones. Here are a few suggestions we have that will help you get through those last few stressful days of the year.
Be honest with yourself and others
It’s critical to take the time to sit down and have an open and honest talk with yourself. Reminisce on previous holiday events. Evaluate which hobbies and individuals brought you joy and which did not. You might be disappointed in yourself if you didn’t achieve your goals that year. Keep in mind that setbacks are quite normal. Understand your condition and be realistic about your financial abilities, family situations, and other difficult issues.
We depend on other people’s expectations for how we spend our time over the holidays. Being honest with yourself about your wants, capabilities, and limits is the first step toward surviving the holiday season. Always be candid about your need for additional space and alone time. Set boundaries for yourself and follow your gut feeling- if a situation or person is making you uncomfortable, make sure to take the proper measures. You’ll likely come out on the other side of the challenge if you can be more truthful with yourself and people around you about what feels right and what doesn’t.
With family or solo – make the most of your time
It might be difficult to reconnect with family members around the Christmas season if you don’t spend most of the year with them. It is okay to set boundaries and spend your time only with your closest ones or alone if your family is not in the picture. Christmas, in particular, may be a difficult time for folks who are not close with their family members. If this is the case for you, seek comfort from your chosen family—close pals who love and support you. Making a self-care agenda with suitable solo activities will help you stay grounded. You may break up the downtime by texting or calling a friend to sympathize. Make the most of your time and bring magic to those days, even if you are doing it solo.
Prepare ahead and bring balance to everything
To avoid unnecessary stress during the holidays, create a schedule ahead of time. Expect the unexpected and be ready for any setbacks that may occur. It’s crucial to remember, though, that even if you have established plans in place, they may alter, which is absolutely fine. If things don’t go your way, remember that you are a strong and amazing human being, and everything will fall into place sooner or later.
Additionally, you are most likely familiar with the concept, but balancing your food and physical exercise – especially during the holidays – can help you navigate anxiety and stress. Try going for a walk, incorporating some kind of exercise in your schedule and keeping track of your food portions. By incorporating those small acts of self-care, you will feel much better about the events that have occurred at the end of the festivities.
Treat yourself and make sure you are having fun
Treat yourself to your favorite foods, spend more time with family rather than working, and simply take advantage of this lovely time. It’s perfectly acceptable to take things a little slower in order to truly appreciate your time. If you are a workaholic, it may be difficult to relax, but remember that this is the time to enjoy the results of your labor and reflect on the previous year. Take longer showers, pamper yourself with skincare, meditate, journal, and do breathing exercises. Whatever activities you choose, engage in them on a regular basis during the holidays, and don’t feel bad for doing so!
Throughout any stressful period, it’s crucial to be patient with yourself and others, and the holidays are no exception. There are steps you may take to assist, manage and lessen the negative effects of the season. When it comes to coping strategies like these, it’s crucial to figure out what works best for you. To ensure your wellbeing, establish your own formula. Avoid unpleasant situations and people, and put your emotional and physical well-being first. The best advice is straightforward and applies to every circumstance: do what makes you happy! Eat those extra cookies, spend a bit more time in bed, spend time with the people you love and simply make your own holiday magical!