Taking care of yourself should be a year-round thing. But, it can be quite difficult for all of us in November and December. We sleep less, eat what we don't normally eat, play more, and plan more. And all of this can have a major affect on us by the time January rolls around. So, to make this a successful holiday and reduce your holiday stress, I am sharing some easy ways to take care of yourself throughout the holidays. Let's do this!
To start, it's important to have easy to do short "self-care" tasks that will go a long way in keeping you sane this time of year. These tasks remind you that you are loved and taken care of, and can help you get through the things that need to be done this season. Here are my 12 of favorite quick 30 minutes or less self-care tasks.
12 Quick Tasks for Self-Care
- Give yourself a home facial. I enjoy doing this first thing in the morning before my shower.
- Do a facial scrub. When I am running out of time in the morning, doing a facial scrub in the shower is a great option.
- Take a bubble bath. I like setting up the tablet and watching a ½ hour episode of my favorite funny show and taking a dip.
- Straighten up the bedroom. This may sound OCD but it really does help me sleep at night. Try it and see.
- Clear clutter in a drawer that annoys me. You may not think drawers decluttered can bother you. However, when you are in the drawer all the time and can't find the thing you are looking for, organizing the drawer and clearing the clutter will help.
- Make a list of items that you want to do but keep forgetting to do. The one thing that annoys me each holiday is when I forget what I need to do. So, making a list really helps me stay on track with the tasks.
- Take a bike ride or walk the dog. Exercise will really help especially on those sunny cooler days.
- Do a craft project to beautify the home. Decorating my home for the holiday is fun for me. I went from being super extravagant to more minimalistic these days. But, I always enjoyed having my favorite holiday things around me.
- Do yoga stretches. I love watching TV and doing some stretching. But, if I am not watching TV, listening to classical music and doing some down-dog poses really helps.
- Listen to favorite music and dance your heart out. This task is one of my favorites, especially when my kids were little and we would dance together. It was so much fun and it really did release the stress of the season.
- Plan and set up a budget for holiday spending. Overspending can make you feel upset and feel your finances are out of control. So, respecting your budget will also show you that you respect yourself.
- Stay on schedule each morning. If you have a cup of coffee and read your favorite news site, keep doing that throughout the holidays.
While these are great quick tasks to do, don't forget to do something you love to do each year. A family tradition, a visit to a childhood event or place, or a gathering that you love to have each year, these events also feed your soul and give you something to look forward to through the busy times. When doing these events, make it known to the people attending that you really enjoy these events. By sharing your passion for these events, you will show others that this is something you want to do and also give them a reason for not acting up or refusing to participate. Remember, people can't read minds so make sure your feelings are known.
To feed your soul, schedule some volunteer time with the needy. Volunteering at a food kitchen or a homeless shelter, sharing your talents with animals helping out at an animal rescue place, and helping out at your kids' school will give you that warm feeling inside. Volunteering with others also helps so get family and friends involved. It's fun and you are helping a good cause.
And, remember to keep doing your favorite year-round self-care routines. Going to the gym, writing in a journal, talking to others, and meditation will keep your mood in check.
Well, there you have it. I hope this helps you remember that you, too, are important throughout this holiday season of giving. Give also to you. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season.
But, wait, want to get more information on self-care during the holidays? Visit these experts below.
5 Tips for Self-Care During the Holidays
Need even more inspiration, check out my other posts on self-care.
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Sara Skillen
These are excellent self-care reminders, and I especially love number 10. Sometimes I'll be rocking to my playlist on the treadmill and get some interesting looks at the gym! Thanks for bringing my attention back to an essential subject.
Seana Turner
I like to play music and bake. We also enjoy lighting a fire in the fireplace for a relaxed evening... not fancy, but feels special. I am glad you mentioned to keep up your normal routines like exercise, prayer, etc. The holiday season is long, and you don't want to end up falling too far behind.
Linda Samuels
This is a fabulous and essential list, Sabrina! You're so right that self-care can become especially challenging during the holidays or any busy time of life. However, if we ignore our own needs, we're no good to anyone else. I've recently gone through a period of excellent self-care morphing into NOT-SO-GREAT self-care. Your list gives me quite the incentive to get back on track. Thank you for the great suggestions and realization that this is something I can do in short time bursts.