20 Ways to Practice Self Care during the Holidays

Shopping – not done

Baking – not done

Wrapping – not done

Decorating – not done

Holiday cards – not done

Just thinking about everything that has to get done leaves me with a knot in my stomach.  Christmas used to be such a magical time but sometimes now it just feels like a lot of work.  Here are 20 ways to reduce stress and Christmas anxiety so that you can enjoy the season, too.

1. Bundle up and take a walk outside.  Fresh air always helps my mood and an evening walk around the neighborhood can be such a calming experience.  
2. Become a mixologist.  Try mixing a new and seasonal drink.  Then, sit back, relax and enjoy it. Click here to try Santa’s Little Helper, a spiced bourbon drink..
3. Light a candle and take a nice bubble bath.  Use a seasonal scent to put you in the spirit!  
4. Read a cozy Christmas book.  Us bookworms need some “me time,” and what better way than to curl up on the couch with a great book.  Cozy books are a great stress reliever for me. Click here for a list of great titles!
5. Drink lots of water.  Staying hydrated is important and will help your mood and your skin!
6. Take advantage of the extra hours of dark and get more sleep.  Very few of us get enough rest, and when we are tired, we are not at our best.  Getting more sleep at night can help us be more productive during the day.
7. Re-examine your to-do list.  Do you really have to do it all?  Sometimes looking at your list and crossing off the “would-be-nice” items can eliminate stress immediately.  Making 10 strudels to give away to neighbors might be nice, but buying a tin of popcorn could be just as nice and save many hours of work.  Be realistic with what you can do with your time.
8. Stay within a budget.  I can’t even tell you the nights I have spent worrying about money and gifts.  This year, I used the EveryDollar budget app and it has really helped! Knowing how much I have to spend and staying within those guidelines has reduced my stress and made my nights worry-free.
9. Binge-watch Hallmark movies.  These sweet stories will have you smiling and looking forward to the holidays!
10. Eat a salad (or something healthy).  There are so many sweets and treats everywhere – at home, at work, at parties.  And while they are delicious, they usually leave me feeling blah. Making a salad or a healthy meal can help put you back on track and give you an extra boost of energy.
11. Give away (or put away) sweets.  Along those same lines, put the sweets you have at home away so they aren’t so accessible.  Or better yet, give them away! You’ll feel better without the temptation all around you.
12. Play a board game.  Get your loved ones together and play a board game.  Christmas isn’t all about work. It’s about taking time to be together with the ones you love.  Don’t lose sight of that in the midst of your to-do list.
13. Light the tree, turn off the TV and listen to Christmas music.  Enough said.
14. Get a new comfy pair of slippers.  Slippers always make me feel warm and cozy. I love the ones with memory foam, I feel like I’m walking on air!
15. Get your nails done.  Do something nice for yourself.  I always feel better when my nails are done.  
16. Call an old friend.  Take time to remember those close to you, and those you haven’t seen in a while.  Spending a half hour talking and laughing with an old friend can do wonders for your mood.
17. Keep a gratitude journal.  This is something I started over the summer, and it has made a huge difference for me.  Click here to read about how to start a gratitude journal.
18. Take a Christmas drive through your town.  This is one of our favorite family activities. Every Christmas, we put hot cocoa in travel mugs and pile in the car in our pjs.  Then we drive around town looking at all the festive lights in our community. Christmas music is a must on these trips!
19. Buy a gift for a needy family.  Nothing makes you feel better than doing something for someone else.  Visit a local church or organization. Many have giving trees for families that are in need.  Helping others is what the season is all about.
20. Visit your local library.  I hate crowded stores around the holidays.  The library is never like that. As a bookworm, I love to stroll around the library browsing for books.  I always leave happy and refreshed.

Those are 20 ideas to reduce stress around the holidays.  Remember, taking care of yourself is not optional. You can’t be your best self without it!  

Wishing you a merry and stress-free Christmas!