With the holidays coming up, stress seems to consume us due to the pressures that accompany the holiday season — travel plans, hosting relatives and finding the perfect gifts for all your friends and family. So this year, gift yourself by filling your December calendar with some holiday self-care!
Unfortunately, self-care is usually set on the back-burner. Especially this year, as stress and uncertainty has taken over a majority of our lives. Nonetheless, self-care is extremely important as it helps encourage maintaining healthy relationships and peace of mind.
Below is a list of self-care ideas to get you started so you can nourish yourself for the holidays. Who knows, you may end up picking up a new habit to start off the upcoming new year on the right foot!
Meditate
Mindful meditation is a great place to start on your self-care journey. Even just a few minutes of quiet where you practice mindfulness can do wonders for your mental state. During this time, focus on your breath and clearing out and negativity that may be settled in your head. If practiced regularly, meditation can undo the damaging effects of stress on our cells, so try making this a new habit.
Journaling
Another way to calm the mind and unwind after a long stressful day is to journal. Practicing self-reflection journaling can help you set goals for yourself, become more mindful or have a safe place to get things off your mind. Some people even find it to be more soothing than meditation! If you aren’t sure where to start, try writing down things you are grateful for or check out this free journal entry printable complete with mindful prompts.
Take a Walk Outside
It’s the simple things in life that really make a difference in our overall well being — including being out in nature. Research suggests that spending time outside reduces stress levels, lowers heart rate and stimulates the immune system. So next time you are feeling down or overwhelmed, lace up your walking shoes and get outside for some fresh air and sunshine.
Write Yourself a Love Letter
Self-care includes being kind to yourself and practicing self-love, so start by writing yourself a thoughtful love letter. You can write it in third-person or address it to yourself and put it away for when you need to remind yourself just how wonderful you are. Another way you could do this is by listing things you admire about yourself, no matter how big or small they might be. If you are in need of a place to begin, check out this printable self-love letter to get you started.
Perform an Act of Kindness
Acts of kindness do so much for our own emotional and mental health. Since the holiday season is a time for giving, try doing something nice for someone else, whether it’s volunteering at a local organization, donating to charity or buying a coffee for the person behind you in line at the drive thru.
For a fun and cute way to brighten someone’s day, surprise them with one of these punny and positive holiday cards! Cut it out and leave it in a neighbor’s mailbox or on the windshield of someone’s car to make them smile.
Self-care is all about nourishing yourself and making yourself feel good, so do whatever makes you happy! For more ideas, check out this 25 days of self-care calendar, complete with simple and fun ideas to wrap up the year and start the new year feeling refreshed and rejuvenated!
Thank you to Madison Smith for this post topic and intro!
Now me…What do I like to do for self care these days?
First off, going out in nature and going out for walks. This one is big for me, I always make a routine of a daily walk. If you’re like me and doing a lot of stuff on the computer, because you too, are a blogger, or you’re doing something else, especially in these times some people are having to get used to working from home more and more. I was blogging before the quarantine started so I didn’t have that kind of readjustment period, thankfully – but I understand, others have had to make some accommodations.
Sometimes I suffer from a little bit of mental fatigue and have to clear my head a little, and going outside does a lot of good. I may get some new ideas and insight this way, sometimes I find cool things just being out in nature. I have picked up stuff on the side of the road, I’ve collected acorns, scraps of wood, sticks, all things that already exist in nature.
Because this is a naturally festive time of year, i’m thinking about lots of new ideas for crafts, and things like tree ornaments. The ideas including repurposed items for Christmas tree ornaments are infinite…you could spend all day looking on Pinterest boards finding new ideas.
Pin for Later?
Because in my own experience, when I am rested and relaxed, I have a much easier time finding fresh insight, ideas, and busting through a creative blockage….If you as well, take the time to practice some self-care rituals as well, you can get into this kind of state, and be the better for it!
So to recap….Take some time away from your computer, or your electronic devices, including your Smartphone, social media, etc., etc….
Take breaks, explore nature, rest and rejuvenate. Whatever that may be, a hot bath, meditation, some time to write in your journal…make something fun out of whatever materials you have on hand.
Come back later to all those things like your electronic tools….You’ll be in a much better, much more centered, happy and healthy state to take care of business!
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