6 Self Care Tips for the Holiday Season

6 Self Care Tips for the Holiday Season

Self-care is important all year long but especially when we are under more stress and the holiday season certainly qualifies for that!! By having a plan, you can avoid burnout and feeling overwhelmed. Here are 6 self care tips for the holiday season:

1.Evaluate:

Sit down and write out everything that is going on for the holidays, including all traditions and expectations. Do these things work for you this year? Give yourself permission to change these things as each year is different and it is okay to do what works for you.

2.Make healthy choices (most of the time):

Adopt an 80/20 rule, allows you to enjoy things in moderation!

• fill up 1/2 your plate with vegetables
• drink 1 glass of water after any alcoholic beverage or caffeine
• take a walk after meals
• eat slowly
• bring a healthy option
• don’t “starve” yourself to “earn” your holiday meal- keeping your blood sugar stable helps you not overdo it

3.Set boundaries:

Rules, expectations, needs and desires help you feel safe and comfortable in your life and relationships.

• Nedra Tawwab is an excellent resource for boundaries & here are some examples for boundaries during the holidays
• “When I come to visit, I will be staying in a hotel”
• “I prefer to pull names rather than buying multiple gifts”
• “I need help preparing dinner”
• “I don’t want to talk about hot-button topics, let’s please change the subject”
• “Last year was stressful, I would like to talk about what we could do differently this year”
• “We would like to get together the weekend before the holiday and have the actual holiday at home”

4.Mindfulness:

The quality or state of being conscious or aware of something. Being in a state of mindfulness is not some woo woo practice it is simply being present. How many times have the holidays gone by and you think- “wow, that was a blur”. Bringing mindfulness to your holidays can help you enjoy them.

• set an intention for the holiday season
• go with the flow
• lead with love
• kindness first
• see step 1 in this email & remove the things that don’t align with your intention or what you want
• fully enjoy each experience (put away your phone & be in the moment)
• read my blog post on “How to start a mindfulness practice”

5.Make time to move your body:

• plan movement into your day
• try my December Workout Challenge
• go on a walk after dinner

6.Have a gratitude practice:

Practicing gratitude improves a person’s overall well-being any time of the year. Making sure it is a priority during the holidays can make for a happier holiday season with less stress and anxiety.

• my blog post about “How to start a gratitude journal”
• give to others- adopt a family, donate to a local food bank, volunteer at a food kitchen, etc
• small acts of kindness challenge

I would love to hear how you are taking care of yourself this holiday season! Are you going to try any of these tips?

~Faith

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****My posts are not to be taken as medical advice. Anything I talk about regarding fitness and nutrition, or any other lifestyle changes comes from my own personal experience or my individual client’s experiences, please consult with your personal medical provider or professional for your specific needs.