10 Ideas for Self-Care This Holiday Season
This is one of the most stressful times of year, to do lists grow by the hour and time seems to move even faster than ever, so it can feel impossible or at the very least indulgent to take time for yourself. However, the very act of scheduling some time for yourself each day, even if it’s just 5 minutes, can make all the difference for your stress level and your health and weight loss goals this holiday season.
When we are stressed, often the habits we’ve formed to help us achieve and maintain our goals, those tend to slip away. It feels easier and faster to keep plugging away at the to do list and simply order takeout or skip the planned workout for the day; we make these tradeoffs all the time. You may even rationalize the choice by telling yourself you’ll do it tomorrow, and then say the same thing tomorrow.
When you take the time, even 5 minutes, a day to focus on yourself, you have the power to break through stress and reset your mindset. Taking these moments is necessary to allow yourself a chance to catch your breath and be present in the moment, helping reduce stress levels and allows you a chance to check in with yourself and your body. This isn’t about how much weight you’ll lose or gain, but instead giving yourself space to pause and check in on your health and mental well-being.
10 Ideas For Daily Acts of Self-Care
Here are ten activities that you can do daily to focus on your own self-care and stress relief. Aim for just one act of self-care each day through the end of the year to start. It doesn’t have to big or ambitious, but it does need to be something that you pick purely for you.
#1 Guided meditation
There are a number of resources out there on YouTube to meditation apps like Headspace or Peloton that have guided meditations and visualizations that can help your mind relax and be present in the moment. Start with 5 minutes and see how you feel afterwards.
#2 Take a bath
Fill up the tub, add bubbles, use aromatherapy, and maybe even some bath salts (look for magnesium or melatonin salts to help with sleep or lavender or chamomile for stress relief). Lock the bathroom door (if needed) and enjoy a soak all to yourself.
#3 Wake up 30 minutes earlier
Use this extra time to allow yourself to slowly wake and savor the present – drink your coffee slowly, maybe watch the world wake up, or do some journaling. Use this time for you, not the to do list.
#4 Take a nap
Even 10 to 15 minutes of shut eye can allow your brain time to power down and process everything that it’s been trying hard to remember and sustain. If you tend to sleep hard when you nap, set an alarm for yourself to keep the nap under 30 minutes. The goal is to let your brain reset.
#5 Be nice
Buy yourself something nice this holiday season or do something nice for yourself that you find relaxing (it may feel ‘naughty’ but it’s not!) – maybe it’s booking a massage or facial appointment, getting your nails done, or take time at a coffee shop to read for 30 minutes and savor your coffee or tea in peace.
#6 Movie night
Watch a movie that you love, that brings you joy. Hopefully it is also one that makes you laugh as laughter can do wonders to alleviate stress and tension.
#7 Read a book
Start with 15 minutes or even longer and pick up a book. Read something that you enjoy and allows you to escape and de-stress.
#8 Compliment yourself
Look in the mirror and give yourself 5 genuine compliments. Giving yourself kindness and appreciation can be so powerful during times of stress when we may be beating ourselves up for not being able to do it all.
#9 Stretch it out
Spend 10 minutes doing some gentle stretching. Take this time to tune in to your body and assess where you might feel tense or stiff. There are great resources online for guided stretching routines if you aren’t sure where to start.
#10 Get outside
Take 15 minutes at a minimum and get outside to soak up some daylight and sunshine. Bundle up if needed and take this time to be present in the moment, maybe notice the weather, the holiday decorations around you, and just move your body. It does wonders for stress relief.
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