Finding Calm In The Holiday Storm
The countdown is on and the to-do lists are long. From gift buying to baking to decorating and hosting – on top of our already busy schedules and end-of-year deadlines – the holidays can be hectic and stressful. With so much energy going into creating the most wonderful time of the year, we barely take a breath or take time for ourselves.
Face it, self-care rarely makes our to-do list but by caring for yourself, you’ll be better equipped to care for those around you and celebrate the holidays with calm and contentment. After all, how can we truly show up for others when we’re exhausted, overwhelmed and less than cheery?
Small, mindful acts of self-care are vital in our lives but never so critical as now. Reducing stress is essential for our mental and emotional well-being so be sure to prioritize me-time that recharges, relaxes, and reframes the busiest time of the year.
The season’s true essence lies in the spirit of giving, caring and connecting – and that includes caring for yourself as you would care for someone you love. Focus on a menu of nourishment – pour yourself a wonderful cup of herbal tea, take a long bath, light a scented candle, play soothing music, grab that book you’ve been meaning to read, fit in a nap. Repeat often for a merrier season.
Tune out the holiday clamour. Slow down and breathe. Meditate daily for 10 minutes. Acknowledge how you feel and reconnect with your breath to offer clarity and calm. Consider using a meditation app to tap into short, guided meditation sessions to release tense emotions.
Take in the beauty of the holiday season – it only comes once a year. Focus on the colours, flavours, sounds and scents and notice how it feels to be enjoying all the sensations. Embrace the joy of being present.
Set healthy boundaries and expectations. Giving yourself permission to create a realistic and not-so-perfect Christmas can be a huge stress reliever. So too, saying no to hosting – yet again – the family Christmas dinner for 35. You can’t do it all, and trying to can hurt your health. Ask yourself: “Just how thin can I spread myself before I no longer exist?” Make sure you are saying yes to what matters and things that bring fulfillment.
Start a new holiday tradition of treating yourself. You’re now at the top of your Christmas gift list. Whatever that treat looks like – dinner out with friends, a fun night of karaoke, or a destressing body treatment at the spa – be sure to open it early. And often is nice too.
Recreate a favourite childhood memory. If you loved singing Christmas carols as a kid, gather some friends and go carolling. Go tobogganing with family. Make those delicious Christmas tree-shaped pancakes. Doing activities you loved as a child invokes happy emotions and boosts moods, and you create new memories too.
Practice gratitude. Step back and focus specifically on things you are thankful for in your life. It could be that you have a job, enough food for your family, a best friend to share laughs with. Shift your attention from what’s lacking to what’s present. Disengaging from curated, picture-perfect social media posts will help.
Financial self-care is important too. Frankly discuss doable dollar amounts with family and friends so everyone is on the same gifting page. Sticking to a realistic gift budget can keep anxiety at bay and credit card bills away come January.
