Most of the time, when you think of the holiday season, you think of family, joy, presents, and food. However, for many, these things can bring about stress, anxiety, and sometimes depression, or brings reminders of loved ones they have lost. For many, this season means planning and taking care of others, however, this leaves little time to take care of yourself.
When we think of taking care of ourselves, we often think of eating healthy and working out. However, we need to take care of our mental well-being too. Here are some self-care tips for the holidays.
Mental Health Tips for the Holidays
- A random act of kindness. Doing something for someone else, like volunteering at a nursing home, a soup kitchen, or at the pediatric wing at your local hospital, can pay it forward. Like paying for the person behind you in the drive-thru, performing random acts of kindness can have lasting impacts on your mood. This can not only make you feel better, but the people around you as well.
- Budget. Many people stress out during the holidays because of finances. Travel, food, and gifts can get expensive quickly. Don’t max out your credit cards or overspend for the sake of others. Be honest with your family and stick to a planned budget so you don’t go into debt due to overspending this season.
- Exercise. Working out can help put you in a better mood and make you feel better about yourself. This can be a walk around the block or going to the gym. This can reduce stress and improve your mood.
- Take a bath. Treat yourself to some nice bath salts or a bath bomb to help you feel festive. Enjoy your favorite drink while soaking.
- Don’t feel guilty. Don’t feel guilty about eating a cupcake, or that you ate a little more than you usually do. Feeling guilty because you overindulged a little can bring down your mood. Give yourself permission to eat something you love.
- Have a routine. Having a routine in the morning or night can give you time for yourself. If you are a parent, get up an hour before your kids, get ready for the day, and enjoy your morning cup of coffee or tea. If you can make it happen, practice yoga or take a quick walk to enjoy the fresh air.
- Listen to music. Listening to your favorite music, dancing around, and being silly can help your mood and lift your spirits up.
- Don’t over plan. Don’t overstretch yourself. You don’t have to promise to go to every holiday party for work or friends.
- Take a nap. Your mind and body need rest. Taking a 15-20 minute nap can make a big difference.
- Read a book. Put down your phone and pick up a physical book. This gets you away from distractions like your phone, computer, or iPad. Read something you want to read.
- Laugh. Whether this is from a joke, a movie, or something someone said, don’t forget to laugh.
- Journal. Make time to write down your thoughts. Don’t bottle up everything you are feeling, write down things that made you happy, sad, and angry. Self-reflection is critical to helping cope with stressors in your life.
- Crafts. Try making something, as simple as a card or you can try your hand at knitting or painting. You don’t have to be great at it, just try something new. You can even use your crafts to give to loved ones as gifts.
- Make a love list. It’s like a bucket list; add an item everyday.
- Take care of your body. Eating healthy foods and working out can help make you feel better. Taking a yoga class, or maybe a new salsa class that you have wanted to try.
- Love yourself. Instead of trying to please everyone around you, you need to love yourself first.
- Loved ones. Losing a loved one can be hard, and when the holidays come around, it can make it hard to be happy. Remember and celebrate them; they wouldn’t want you to be sad during the holidays.
- Bake with family. Bake some cookies with your kids or spouse. Use this time to enjoy yourself and make memories.
- Enjoy Life. We all should take 10 minutes each day and simply appreciate what we have, be grateful for our life and family.
If you feel like you are overwhelmed by everything on your to-do list, take a deep breath and remind yourself that you can always come back to the list later. There is no reason to get everything done all in one day. You are only one person and can’t do everything, and that’s okay.
The holidays can be a stressful time of year, but it can also give you time to reflect and realize that you need to shed your past and look forward to the future. We hope you feel encouraged to remember to use some of these self-care tips for the holiday season.
Written by Jessica Christian, a blogger at Safe Harbor International Ministries.
References:
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/women-s-mental-health-matters/201512/6-tips-holiday-self-care
- https://bemorewithless.com/how-to-make-a-love-list/
Safe Harbor blog posts and links mentioned:
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