“Self-care is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation.” – Audre Lorde
Oh, the holiday hustle! We can get so caught up in it that we forget to take care of ourselves in the process.
I’m here to tell you that self-care matters more than ever during this time of year.
Holidays can be stressful.
The shopping, the baking, the cooking, the hosting, the logistics, etc…
SO much extra cortisol that we don’t need!!
Holidays can be depressing, too.
Perhaps you lost a loved one and now your holidays aren’t the same.
Or the holidays are a reminder that your loved one isn’t sitting at the table or sharing in the exchange of storytelling and jokes.
I can relate.
I lost my father in-law and brother in 2016.
I lost my father and mother in-law in 2021.
I lost my mother in 2023.
Holidays are NOT the same.
And it can be extremely challenging to move past these losses and create new traditions that celebrate the loved ones that ARE at the table.
This holiday season I ask that you prioritize YOU.
I know you might be thinking that if you don’t spend time being sad about your loss it might seem like you don’t care.
This is the farthest thing from the truth.
Your loved ones WANT you to be happy and experience joy! 💖
And they want you to carry on and make new memories and traditions.
Why?
Because they love you!!
Holiday Self-Care tips:
Check in with yourself every day throughout the day.
How are you feeling?
Is your energy level low?
Are your emotions all over the place?
Are you near tears at any given moment?
Ask yourself what you can do in that moment to change the feeling and make it a better one.
Can you put some uplifting music on and dance around your living room? 🎶
Can you meditate and get clarity around what’s important? 🧘♀️
Can you practice gratitude for who and what you have in your life right now? 🙏
Maybe go for a walk or do some yoga.
How I applied self-care:
Yesterday, I asked myself those questions.
The answer was to go for a walk. I needed to move my body.
I realized I was so caught up with the “doing” that I hadn’t been taking care of myself. Can you relate?
It was a brisk 3 miles, but man the fresh air and movement was exactly what I needed!
Getting outside was, also, a great reminder how important self-care is during the holiday season.
When I got home, I was less stressed, in a better mood (more positive outlook), and had more energy.
You know what they say…you can’t pour from an empty cup. 🫗
So, fill your cup first and make your self-care a priority the next month and a half.
And do me and yourself a favor and be sure to incorporate the tips I shared above or find others that you feel will help uplift your spirits.
P.S. I know this was just a quicky blog post. If you’d like more self-care tips you can read this blog. Be well!
