7 Ways to Use Self-Care to Survive the Holidays

With the many stressors of 2020, learning how to self-care your way through the shenanigans of this holiday season is absolutely crucial to help maintain your physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. This year, many individuals are facing challenging choices, such as whether or not to travel for the holidays, how to celebrate with family virtually, and some may be feeling isolated or down. And of course, the holidays are a time of heightened stress every year, as schedules get busy and family obligations take front and center. Let your friends at GR8NESS help you manage the merriment, and all that is not-so-merry, with seven fabulous ways to use self-care to survive the holidays.

1. Alter Your Routine

Take a break from your routine and create a divide in how you organize your time over the holidays. This will help to elevate the novelty of your experience, and prep you for the fluctuating circumstances that this time of year brings.

Preparation will make it less likely that you become overwhelmed and drained by the process. It will shed light on a new perspective in which to view the holidays. View this time of the year as a special time instead of a disturbance to your normal routine.

2. Reserve One Day to do Nothing

In a time that makes us feel as though we never have a moment to breathe, create one. Consider how many days off are spent worrying, planning, or errand running. If possible, select one day and make no plans. Dedicate the time to allowing yourself to take a breather.

If you’re used to feeling over the holidays at a certain tipping point, retreating will help to loosen the grip. It might sound crazy, especially if you have a lot to do, but trust us, everyone needs their time to do “nothing.” Return to wherever you’re breaking from refreshed and ready to go.

3. Leave Yourself Love Notes

At the risk of sounding overly romantic, self-love is self-care. It’s usual for us to put everyone else before ourselves during the holidays, but who’s checking and reminding themselves how worthy they are of the exact love they transmit to others?

Leave yourself a sticky note. Download a self-love background to remind yourself of your priceless worth. Leaving small kindnesses might be all you need to regulate your mood on tough days dealing with the holiday craze.

4. Go Minimal on Décor

Decorations, while lovely and tradition, can be super stressful. Avoid getting tangled in eight years’ worth of clustered lights by sticking with minimal décor. Go for the basics, and aim for clean and warm. A lot of times, decorations can contain a sentimental value that has us holding onto them for far longer than we should.

Then, we have to deal with looking at them all season long as people make obligatory comments about them, and shooing away the cat from potential damage. Put out what you want to see, and if you don’t want to see any of it, donate it or trash it and pick up some new styles.

Decorating for the holidays should be all fun and minimal stress.

5. Take Some Time to Read

The customs and traditions revolving around the holidays tend to accompany some exciting texts. Use some time to research and educate yourself on what the hype is all about.

Learning more about why humans practice the things they do can instill an all-new appreciation. Perhaps they can help combat the negative associations that we often have with the less favorable tropes of the holidays.

6. Donate Something

It is the season of giving, after all. Every year, people are in need. Comb through your things and come up with one solid ticket item that you wouldn’t be devastated to lose. Even if you’re feeling attached, use this exercise as resistance to the attachment of material things. You’ll feel lighter and brighter in no time, not to mention karma.

Additionally, 2020 has brought financial stress to many. If you are in a fortunate position, consider donating to a local food drive or meal service organization that is helping families in need to celebrate the holidays.

7. Be GR8FUL

Gratitude is the attitude of the season. No matter your expectations, the things that go wrong or right, having the mindset of being grateful will only set your vibration high. Keep your cool by reminding yourself of everything you have.

Expressing your gratitude to others will help to lift their spirits, and in turn, come back to you. You might learn that you’re more appreciated than you imagine. You may even experience more to be grateful for. It’s all in perspective.

It’s easy to become enthralled in the holiday madness. Avoid it taking a toll on your physical or mental well-being. Whatever you do, don’t lose track of you this season. Practicing self care over the holidays is your avenue to making it through.