The holiday season is in full swing! And although this time of year is chock full of fun and merrymaking, it can also take a serious toll on our well being. When the list of things to buy, organize, decorate, and prepare gets almost too long to handle, there is one person who always seems to get the short end of the stick.
And that’s YOU!
We all have an unfortunate habit of cutting our self care from the list of priorities when things get hectic. But here’s the thing. Busy, stressful, highly demanding times are when we need self care the most! This is exactly the time of year when we should be dialing up self care, not placing it on the backburner.
We know how packed your schedule is and how challenging it can be to make the time to get in that workout, cook the healthy meal, and sleep a full 7-8 hours. We have some solid, specific tips on how to do just that, which we know will be super helpful.
But…
Before we dive into the nitty gritty, there’s a little something we must get out of the way. Self care is not selfish.
It is self-LESS.
We are going to hammer that point home and repeat it one more time because it is super important.
Self care is not self-ISH, it is self-LESS.
You cannot show up and meet the demands of the crazy holiday season if you are running on empty. You have loads of people counting on you, right? The only way to show up and be your best for them is to take care of yourself.
So, when you think about it from this perspective, self care is a completely selfless act. You have to take care of yourself in order to take care of everything else.
Okay. Now that we all agree…let’s talk about how to practice self care, during a notoriously tightly-scheduled season.
Schedule Time for Self Care
The modern world pretty much requires us to be firmly tied to our digital calendar or if you’re old school, like me, your paper planner:) If you want something to get done, be it to attend that parent teacher meeting or bake the pies for your sister’s holiday party, you know you have to put the meeting or task or event on your calendar. If you don’t there is a very high chance of it simply not getting done.
When it comes to self care, you can do the same thing! Place your workout sessions, the classes you plan to take this week at the studio, and your morning meditation right on the calendar and watch it happen far more often.
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Set Yourself a Bedtime Reminder.
One you bust out the wrapping paper and pop the cork on that bottle of red, it’s super easy for time to get away from you. Next thing you know, the clock is showing a surprisingly late number and you know tomorrow morning is going to come far too soon.
One of the most effective ways to keep our energy up and our stress down during the holidays is to get sufficient sleep. Don’t let time slip by. This is the time of year to get intentional with your rest.
Pop into that mobile phone and set yourself a bedtime reminder for each and every night. Build in plenty of time for a soothing routine, including skin care, a bit of wind down reading or stretching, and a nice relaxing drift off into dreamland.
Commit to a Healthy Lunch Every Single Day
Look, we totally get it. This time of year, the smorgasbord of food being served is extremely tempting and something we should all indulge in as we see fit. Also, sometimes you start shopping or running errands and before you know it, you’re hangry and looking for the closest, easiest option. And that is often not the healthiest choice.
Eating loads of food that we are not accustomed to eating that are high fat, fried, processed, or full of sugar leads to low energy, weight gain, digestive issues, and more. On the flip side, eating just one super healthy, nutrient rich, meal made from whole foods can make all the difference between being able to go, go, go and calling it quits for Christmas.
Commit to eating a healthy lunch each and every day. This is a simple way to make sure you are getting the vitamins, minerals, fiber, fat, and more to drive your holiday engine all the way through the season. Also, it’s relatively easy to find a salad, even when you are on an all day shopping spree.
This year, put yourself squarely at the top of the list through exercise, sleep, and healthier eating. Your body, mind, and soul will thank you for it and your holiday season will be merrier, brighter, and less stressful, too.
I’m here for you at Tarrylife and Phoenix Classical Pilates on your whole wellness journey. Drop me a line in comments or at molly@tarrylife.com and let me know how you stay centered and sane during the holiday season.