How to Take Care of Yourself for the Holidays

By Shelby Ruman, LPC

The Holidays are a great time to spend with your loved ones. As the year comes to an end and the seasons change, sometimes it’s time to upgrade your self-care. While the Holidays are a time of festivities and family activities, they may also be stressful and tiring. Taking care of oneself may seem like the last thing on a list of Holiday-to-dos, but it is one of the most important. 

Self-care can take form in many different ways including physical, mental, and social. Physical self-care is a great way to boost immune health, rest, and stress relief. Mental self-care can help a person relax and boost positivity. And social self-care can help with decreasing feelings of isolation and increase the feeling of connection. 

In the midst of the Holiday chaos, it is important to check-in with yourself and focus on your needs. Below are some ways to care for yourself during the Holidays.

Mental self-care 

• Read an enjoyable book or read about something you find interest in
• Have your favorite snack or drink – it is ok to “treat yo-self,” sometimes.
• Do something special for you – do your favorite activity, go pamper yourself, take a bath, etc. 
• Watch your favorite show or movie – sometimes those holiday classics can really hit the spot!
• Put away your phone more often – replace scrolling with other activities. 
• Create art – this can include coloring, painting, or sculpting. 
• Let out your emotions – holidays can be stressful and bring up a lot of emotions whether it is from missing a loved one, or financial stress, reach out to someone you trust to talk it out.
• Say no – do not overextend yourself, pay attention to what is most important.

Physical self-care

• Take a walk – bundle up if you need and get out there!
• Try a new exercise – it does not have to be anything crazy, sometimes a simple exercise can only take minutes. 
• Do some simple stretches – stretching in the morning can become an easy routine!
• Choose health options – do not cut out the Christmas cookies but be sure to also make room for the healthy stuff!
• Get enough sleep – this can help with our immune system and mental health.
• Take care of yourself if you’re feeling sick – make those doctor’s appointments if necessary.
• Stay hydrated – drink a lot of fluids!

Social self-care

• Reach out to people if you’re feeling isolated – sometimes seeing our friends is more important than we think!
• Take time away when you are feeling overwhelmed – don’t push yourself over the limit.
• Pay attention to your social meter (are you feeling like you have been around people too much, or too little?).
• Check-in with friends you have not talked to in a while.

Remember that the holidays are a time to focus on the good things. Everyone is having a different holiday experience. Practice being nice to people, everyone is going through their own battles. Spread positivity and have a great holiday season! 

If you feel you would need more assistance in navigating this Holiday season, do not hesitate to contact us Gryzbek Therapy Services. We have immediate availability at this time.