The most wonderful time of the year! Or the most stressful? Grab our top 12 Christmas self care tips to actually enjoy this holiday season!
Self Care at Christmas
You have a zillion presents to wrap, you need to make cookies for the neighborhood party, and you still haven’t taken the kids to see Santa. All you want to do is sit down with a hot cup of cocoa and watch Hallmark movies.
Sound familiar?
Christmas can be the most beautiful and magical seasons of the year. It can also be the most stressful and overwhelming.
How do you prevent Christmas stress?
One way to prevent holiday stress and burnout is by practicing self care at Christmas.
It can be so easy to get overwhelmed. Trust me, I’ve been there. You want to do all the things. Go to all the events. And make it the most magical Christmas EVER. And then, BAM…you’re done. Absolutely burnt out and just ready for all the craziness to be over.
Try making self care a priority this holiday season- you might just be surprised how much of a difference it can make!
12 Tips for Christmas Self Care
How do you take care of yourself at Christmas?
Self care! Self care is the conscious act of prioritizing one’s own mental, physical, and mental health.
For many, Christmas can be a very joyful season. But for some of us it represents sadness, chaos, and stress. No matter what the holiday means to you, self care is never a bad idea. In fact, I think it is one of the most important things we do for ourselves. The secret is to do it BEFORE you need it! Make it a habit and watch how it changes your wellbeing.
Make YOU a priority with these 12 Christmas self care tips:
Get Intentional
Being intentional is about paying attention, prioritizing, and making choices according to what matters most to you.
This Christmas, take time to check in with yourself. Ask yourself each day, “What is it that I need most today?” Pay attention to what your mind, body, and soul are telling you.
Do you need to slow down? Do you need to sit down and re-evaluate your calendar? Do you need to tell someone, “No, not today”?
Practicing self care isn’t selfish. In fact, the opposite is true. When you take care of you, you are better equipped to show up for everyone else.
Plan in Advance
Planning out your month is key to avoiding burn out during the Christmas season. Sit down with your calendar before the month begins and schedule all the important activities and events.
Getting organized can include everything from setting a budget for the month to meal planning to all the holiday extras. If you find your schedule is too full, pick and choose which activities are the most important to you. Which events can be skipped? Where are there holes to fit in unplanned events that may pop up?
Remember, you don’t have to say yes to everything. It is OK to say NO.
Stick to Rhythms and Routines
One of the simplest forms of self care is to maintain your daily rhythms and routines. During what can be a crazy busy season, simply maintaining routines around eating, exercise, housekeeping, and sleep can be very beneficial. Sticking to routines will help you feel more focused, productive, and less stressed.
Need help getting started? Read more on how to set up a daily self care system or morning self care routine that works for you!
Ask for Help
Why is it so hard to ask for help?
Hey…I totally get it. It’s so much easier to do everything ourselves, right?
Asking for help is one of the most simple yet important acts we can take in caring for ourselves at Christmas. Allowing others to help BEFORE you hit the burnt out stage is key.
Pro Tip: No one will think less of you if you bring a store bought cake to the holiday party. No one will know that you regifted that picture frame your sister in law gave you for your birthday. No one will fault you for needing an afternoon alone to regroup.
People love to be thought of and to be helpful. You might even be making someone else feel valued and appreciated by asking!
Let Go of Expectations
Who made the rules?
No seriously? Who made the rules? The ones that make you feel like you have to do all the things and be all the places or you’re not doing it “right?”
Make your own rules.
Let go of all the self imposed rules and regulations. My number one tip for Christmas self care is this: Do things your way.
- Don’t love cooking Christmas dinner? Then don’t. Start a new tradition of going out to eat every Christmas Eve.
- Can’t afford to buy expensive gifts for all your coworkers? Then don’t. Make them each a batch of cookies and write a nice handwritten note.
- Hate wrapping all the presents? Hire a local teenager to do it for you.
- Dread putting Christmas decorations out in your yard every year? Don’t. Put a wreath on your door and call it a day.
Don’t let the “supposed to’s ruin your holiday season. Release the pressures of everyone else’s expectations. After all, it’s YOUR holiday.
Connect
Research has shown that feeling connected to others is one of the best predictors of happiness and contentment in life.
Prioritize relationships during this Christmas season- make time to connect with friends, family, and loved ones- but do it in a way that is right for you.
Connection can look different to everyone. For some people a long telephone or text conversation counts. Others might need a coffee date, girls night out, date night, or full on holiday party. The most important thing for you to remember is to focus on activities that nurture your relationship with others during the holiday season.
Nourish your Body
Make healthy choices. Hydrate. Move your body. Get enough sleep.
Easier said than done, right?
Engaging in Christmas self care practices maintaining your physical health can not only reduce anxiety, frustration, and stress but improve concentration, energy and happiness.
PS. It’s definitely OK to indulge a little. It is after all, the most delicious time of the year! Just try to find an appropriate balance for you.
Plan Downtime
One of the biggest ways to reduce overwhelm is to schedule down time. Plan it.
Rest is an essential element to our well being. And it’s extra important during the holidays.
So…Plan that Hallmark movie marathon. Take the nap. Unplug for an hour on Sundays. Take a solo walk around the neighborhood. Go to bed early. Whatever is restful and restorative to you, plan it!
Treat Yourself
I’m not talking fudge, cookies, and candy here.
I’m talking about the little things that make you smile. The things that make you feel joyful. The things that just make you feel better.
Every year our family goes to see a big Christmas lights display, the kind you drive through. We don’t do this because my kids want to do this. We do this because I want to do it. And my kids know that. It is the one holiday tradition that I love and so the whole family gets on board and goes for me.
The point here is this: make your needs known. Let your loved ones know what would really make your holiday season. Is it shopping together with your mother? Maybe a full day at home with no one else there to get all the wrapping done? Maybe its a big clean up day to get the house organized so you don’t feel so out of control? Maybe it’s just a bubble bath and a good book.
Listen to your mind, body, & soul- what do you need?
Practice Mindfulness
It’s easy to get caught up in all the craziness. There is just so much going on during the holidays. Focusing on being present can improved your emotional health and overall wellbeing.
Here are some self care ideas to center yourself and practice mindfulness during the holidays:
- Try gratitude journaling
- Practice self love affirmations, self care affirmations, or these affirmations for self esteem
- Spend time in nature
- Make a gratitude list
- Try journaling for self discovery
- Devote dedicated time to your faith
- Make a list of things that bring you joy
- Try meditation, yoga, or breathing exercises
Whether you have a regular gratitude practice or not, the holiday season is the perfect time to work on having a more grateful heart.
Push Yourself Outside Your Comfort Zone
While the holidays may be a difficult time to fit in personal growth, it’s never a bad idea to push ourselves outside our comfort zone.
What do I mean? Here are some suggestions:
- Need some creative time? Sign up for that wreath making workshop. (Even if you don’t know another soul!)
- Want to volunteer but never done it before? Start small. Donate to a local toy drive or ask local churches or nonprofits where they have needs.
- No time to start learning a new skill this month? Make a list of things you want to do in the new year.
- Feeling disconnected? Reach out to an old friend.
- Are you a major introvert and the neighborhood party just seems like too big of a step? Just ask one neighbor over for a drink or coffee.
- Need something to do that is NOT holiday related. Try one of these fun everyday adventures.
There’s no reason you can’t find opportunities for growth during the holidays! You just have to say YES!
Give Back
Did you know that giving back is actually good for your health?
Truth! Research has shown that giving back can actually reduce your blood pressure and stress levels and increase your self esteem, happiness, and satisfaction in life.
Consider scheduling some form of giving back this holiday season. From shopping local to volunteering in your local soup kitchen to adopting a family in need this Christmas, there are endless options out there.
Give it a try! I’d be willing to bet it will make you feel pretty damn good to do some good.
As you head into the new year, consider a self care challenge, and really start reaping the benefits of proactive self care!
12 Days of Christmas Self Care Challenge
Save this 12 Days of Christmas Challenge to help you practice more self care this Christmas!
If you’re looking for more fun things to make this holiday season more magical, check out our ultimate winter bucket list!
