Many people struggle with self-care - we're always too busy with work, family, etc. And this year, as stress and uncertainty have taken over a majority of our lives, it has become even harder to stop for a bit and think about ourselves. Nonetheless, self-care is extremely important as it helps encourage maintaining a healthy relationship with yourself and others.
With the holidays coming up, stress seems to consume us even more due to the pressures that accompany the holiday season — travel plans, hosting relatives and finding the perfect gifts for all your friends and family - and wondering if we'll be able to pull all that through in the current situation. So this year, gift yourself by filling your December calendar with some holiday self-care!
Below is a list of self-care ideas to get you started so you can nourish yourself for the holidays. Who knows, you may end up getting your New Year's Resolutions off to an early start!
Do Something Nice For Someone Else
Acts of kindness do so much for our own emotional and mental health. Since the holiday season is a time for giving, try doing something nice for someone else, whether it's volunteering at a local organization, donating to charity or buying a meal for the person behind you in line at the drive thru. A fun and cute way to brighten someone’s day is by surprising them with one of these punny and positive holiday cards! Cut it out and leave it in a neighbor’s mailbox or on the windshield of someone’s car to make them smile.
Practice Yoga
Yoga is a great way to practice self-care as it’s super beneficial to your personal health and overall well-being. Yoga helps relieve stress and anxiety while boosting energy levels — which can be much needed during the holidays. Take at least 10 minutes in the morning or evening to stretch and practice a few yoga poses and reap the benefits.
Mindful Reflection Journaling
One way to calm the mind and unwind after a long stressful day is to journal. Practicing self-reflection journaling can help you set goals for yourself, become more mindful or have a safe place to get things off your mind. Some people even find it to be more soothing than meditation! If you aren’t sure where to start, check out this free journal entry printable complete with mindful prompts.
Write Yourself a Love Letter
An important aspect of self-care is being kind to yourself and practicing self-love, so start by writing yourself a thoughtful love letter. List things you love and admire about yourself, no matter how big or small they might be. If you are in need of a place to begin, check out this printable self-love letter to get you started.
Be Present
One of the best things you can do for yourself is to be present. Put your phone away, glance away from the TV and take in the atmosphere of those closest to you. We tend to let the moments pass us by due to all of the distractions in today’s world. Be mindful of where you put your attention and make it a priority to enjoy the little things and make good memories.
Self-care is all about nourishing yourself and making yourself feel good, so do whatever makes you happy! For more ideas, check out this 25 days of self-care calendar, complete with 25 “treat yo’self” ideas to wrap up the year and start the new year feeling refreshed and rejuvenated!
Happy Thursday!
Disclaimer: this post was written in partnership with Siege Media and FragranceX. Printables and images, with the exception of the first one on top of the post, were supplied by them and as such are not owned by me.
I just love these ideas for self-care. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you, I'm so glad you stopped by!
DeleteTeresa, congratulations on your post, our ELISE has chosen it to be featured in the next Blogger's Pit Stop.
ReplyDeleteKathleen
Thank you so much Kathleen!
Delete