The holidays can be a stressful time for many people. From family dynamics to gift shopping, there are a lot of challenges and emotions to deal with during this season.
To thrive, it is important to take care of yourself and avoid feeling overwhelmed. Here are some tips to help you do just that!
The holidays are a time to prioritize giving to others, but if you don't take care of yourself, the stress can get out of hand. This can impact your mood and how you treat those around you, including yourself.
One way to prioritize your self-care is to put it on your calendar like you would an important appointment. This can help ensure you give yourself time to meditate, have a bath, or do something you enjoy that promotes wellness on all levels.
Another way to prioritize your health is to eat healthy most of the time, and not just during the holiday season. This means avoiding processed foods, eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and making thoughtful decisions about larger meals and treats.
It also means recognizing the value of setting healthy boundaries and saying no to festivities that drain you emotionally and physically. Practicing this can be a great way to manage the high expectations that come with the holidays and keep you feeling supported, engaged, and on top of your game.
During the holidays, it’s natural to feel like you have more to do than usual. You may need to prioritize your tasks or get extra rest in order to stay focused.
You might also need to plan ahead. For example, you may want to schedule an appointment for a massage before the holiday break.
This might be a great opportunity to take care of yourself so you can focus on work while you’re away.
For many employees, taking time off for the holidays is a way to spend more quality time with family and friends.
It’s important for your leadership team to set expectations around holidays and how employees should use their PTO during this time. Ideally, this communication should begin in September to avoid an influx of requests in December.
The holiday season is a time for family, friends and festivities, but it’s also a period that can be stressful. Having a mindful mindset will help you to enjoy your time and manage stress effectively.
Mindfulness is a mental state that requires attention and awareness in the present moment, without judgment or analysis of your thoughts and feelings. It’s been shown to relieve stress and enhance wellness in both happy times and stressful situations.
Be mindful of others during the holiday season, particularly those who may be causing you stress. Whether it’s bickering relatives or an awkward conversation with a friend, try to have a positive attitude and set yourself up for success before you enter the situation.
During the holiday season, it's important to practice self-compassion. It's a healthy way to deal with mistakes, setbacks, and challenges that we may experience during this time of year.
It involves practicing self-kindness, mindfulness, and common humanity—in other words, recognizing that all humans are vulnerable to mistakes, failures, and setbacks. Practicing these skills often helps people feel happier, more resilient, and less depressed.
To learn how to practice self-compassion, try these exercises from Kristin Neff, a self-compassion researcher and author. She has a self-compassion scale and several self-compassion exercises on her website that can help you build this skill.
The holidays are often a time of heightened stress and anxiety. Whether you’re dealing with challenging family members, past experiences or financial difficulties, this time of year can bring up feelings that are difficult to deal with alone.
The best way to protect your mental health is to take steps to prioritize self-care. This includes eating well, getting plenty of sleep and hydrating regularly.
It also means letting go of unhealthy, limiting thoughts. Instead of worrying about food or the calories in certain foods, pay attention to how your body feels and whether or not it’s hungry.
The holiday season is a great time to start new, healthy habits and make positive changes. So, before you get too stressed and exhausted by the hustle and bustle, take a moment to put yourself first.