The Holiday Season. The most wonderful time of the year for some, not so wonderful for others, and a mixture of both for many. A time of joy, cheer, laughter, and renewal can also bring with it stress, loneliness, isolation, fatigue, and grief. The most important way to enjoy the celebration and not get sucked in by the woes and madness is to be intentional about taking care of yourself — mind, body, and spirit. Creating a Holiday Self-Care Plan in advance is one of the most effective ways to do that. Below are some ideas for each domain of your self-care plan.
MIND
- Set goals for the week
- Plan something to look forward to
- Take a class
- Treat yourself to something that you enjoy
- Keep a Gratitude List
- Step out of the box – try something that you’re afraid to do and record how it makes you feel
- Do a brain dump
- Speak positive, encouraging, and lovingly to yourself
- Identify a recent situation that didn’t go well and name 3 positive insights that you gained from it
- Write down 5 of your dreams (goals) that have yet to come true
- Do something fun and we’ll both receive a $10 discount with my referral link *winning*
- Let go of perfection and see what happens
- List 3 things about yourself that turn people off. Now describe how it positively connects you to other people.
- Imagine your ideal day. Now identify 3 changes you need to make in order to move closer to that vision.
BODY
- Take a dance class
- Drink water
- Make one small change to your eating habits each week
- Get as much sun as you can (especially during the fall and winter months)
- Take a nap
- Diffuse essential oils
- Give someone a hug
- Take a warm bath with relaxing tunes playing
SPIRIT
- Reconnect with a family member or an old friend
- Find things that you’re passionate about
- Give to a charity
- Connect and/or reconnect with God
- Help someone
- Ask for help
- Have a virtual lunch date with a faraway friend or family member
- Exercise your right to say no
- Don’t compare yourself to others — focus on being you
- Identify the things that you worship. Now identify the things that you would prefer to worship
- Immerse yourself in a fun activity without being interrupted
You can check out other tips on Self-Care During The Holidays in this month’s grab & go! You don’t want to miss it!