12/18/18 12/18/18

5 Simple Self-Care Practices for the Holidays

The holidays can get a little crazy. With allthe shopping, decorating, planning and celebrating, it's easy to put yourselfon the back burner. This season is allabout giving, but that doesn't mean you have to neglect yourself and yourwellbeing in the process.

Remember, you can't pour from an emptycup. We want to make time for everyoneand everything on our list. But we can'tbe present and give to those around us when we ourselves are not whole.

Lately, I've been feeling more than a littlestressed and overwhelmed, thinking about my schedule and all that I have to getdone before Christmas. If you can relate, it may be time to add a little self-careto your to-do list. Pencil in some time to reconnect with yourself and rechargeso that you can fully enjoy the holidays.

What is Self-Care?

Self-care is any activity that we do deliberatelyin order to take care of our mental, emotional, and physicalhealth. This doesn't necessarily meancreating an elaborate beauty routine or scheduling a costly trip to the spa.

Anything that allows you to turn your mindoff, relax, and relieve stress is a form self-care. It's a way to be good to ourselves andpractice self-love.

There are so many benefits to self-care,especially during this busy season when we tend to over-extend ourselves andour resources.

ThisChristmas time let’s make our own wellbeing a priority. Here are 5 ways you canpractice self-care over the holidays.

1. Check in with yourself

With so much goingon it's easy to push our feelings to the side and lose touch with ourselves andour emotions. It's the holidays andwe're supposed to be happy and cheerful. You may feel like you have to be in the Christmas spirit all month long,but that's just not realistic.

How are you reallyfeeling? Listen to your body. Allowyourself to feel your feelings, good or bad, instead of masking them under aguise of holiday cheer.

Consider journalingor even writing letters to loved ones if something is on your heart. Writing is a great way to acknowledge ouremotions and process them in healthy ways.

2. Exercise

Get your endorphinsflowing with a little physical activity. It's a great way to relieve stress,energize your body and clear your head. Whatever form of exercise you enjoy, whether it's lifting weights, yogaor going for a walk, make the time to do it.

Along with its manyother benefits, exercise is a proven mood-booster. This is something we could all use. WheneverI work out, I feel much more positive and less stressed out afterward. It'snever something I regret.

I haven't had asmuch time as usual to get to the gym, but I still try to get a little exercisein by doing workout videos at home. That's been a great way to stay active during this hectic season. Thereare tons of free videos on Youtube for almost any type of exercise you canthink of!

3. Eat well

As someone wholoves egg nog and hot chocolate, I would never suggest you abstain from allholiday goodies. But it's important totake care of your body and find a healthy balance.

There's nothingwrong with treating yourself! Enjoy thedinners, parties and other gatherings, but in between those events go forlighter, healthier options. Overindulging on unhealthy foods can cause not only weight gain, but also affectyour mood and energy levels.

Treat your bodywell by balancing the unavoidable treats with nutritious meals to off-set anynegative effects and keep you feeling your best all month long.

4. Cultivate gratitude

Everywhere you lookthere are reminders of all the things you don't have. Commercials andbillboards showcase the latest and greatest of everything. There's anunderlying spirit of materialism that is easy to get caught up in.

Instead of gettingbummed out by what you feel you may be lacking, change your perspective. Focus on those things that you're grateful forand you'll start to see a positive shift in your mindset and attitude.

Cultivatinggratitude improves overall wellbeing. We feel happier, more content and atpeace in our daily lives. It's been shown to improve mental, emotional and evenphysical health.

Do this as often asyou can. Try creating a gratitude list.Write down all the things in your life you're grateful for. You may besurprised to see the many blessings you've overlooked.

5. Schedule Downtime

It may seem odd to schedule time to do the activities you enjoy. But as your calendar fills up, it's easy to neglect doing the things that bring us happiness and allow us to unwind. Activities like hobbies, reading, meditating, or even catching up on a favorite tv show are great ways to de-stress. And this is an essential part of self-care.

With all the socialevents going on, it's a good idea to schedule regular time to slow down and takeit easy. Aim for a little 'me time' at least once a week to make sure you'reable to recharge from all the revelry and socializing.

If you find yourselfovercommitted, don't be afraid to say no! You're not obligated to go to every holiday dinner or ugly sweaterparty. Prioritize yourself and make timefor the activities that will bring you peace and tranquility even if just for alittle while.

The holidays don’t have to be a crazy time. Keep things in perspective and be kind to yourself if and when things don't go according to plan. Combat stress by incorporating a little self-care into your routine whenever possible and have a happier, more enjoyable holiday season.