17 Simple Ways to Practice Holiday Self-Care

[disclosure]

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and found everything they wanted on Black Friday!

The holidays are now in full swing. I love this time of year – family, friends, food, and everything!

Especially the cookies…yum!

With all the things we have to do during this season, it’s easy to let self-care slip down the priority list. There’s not a lot of time or energy to devote to yourself. And before you know it, you’re stressed, exhausted, and maybe even sick. Time to take back control and schedule some self-care.

The good news is that self-care doesn’t need to be expensive massages or yoga retreats (although they do sound pretty good). Self-care be can simple, easy, and straightforward. In fact, the best self-care is the constant repetition of small acts of self-love and kindness.

Holiday Self-Care Every Day

Doing small things every day can be easy. Here are some suggestions to get you started.

Switch everything off (smartphone, tablet, computer, TV) for an hour and enjoy some uninterrupted silence.
Stand up and stretch your arms above your head. Wriggle your fingers and toes. Shrug your shoulders up to your ears, and then drop them down. Do a few head circles, nod, and then shake your head gently.
Breathe gently and deeply, in and out, three times. Smile.
Put on your favorite song and get up and dance.
Take the dog for a walk. If you don’t have a dog, borrow a friend’s dog and enjoy watching them live in the moment.
Buy yourself a healthy treat. Choose the ripest peach, the most luscious looking mango, or the most fragrant strawberries (even if they are not in season – it’s the thought!).
Sit under a tree and feel the quiet.
Have a self-date and go to a movie or museum.
Get some positive feedback. Ask three friends what they love about you.
Take a nap. A twenty-minute nap or zone out can make a huge difference in your energy levels.
Give yourself a night at home. Have a bath and eat dinner on the sofa in your jammies.
Call it an early night. Take that new novel to bed and read for a while before getting a good night’s sleep.
Listen to a meditation on your smartphone or tablet. There are lots of apps with thousands of guided meditations for everything from relaxation to weight loss.
Treat yourself to your favorite childhood food.
Take a friend to the park and go cloud-watching. Lie on your back, relax, and just look at the sky.
Declutter your social media. Mute or delete people who drag you down with negative energy.
Take one day every week where you do something for you, whether it’s a hobby, sport, bookshop browsing, or staying in bed reading.