The pressure to make the holidays a magical time for you and the people around you can make the holiday season a stressful time in all of our lives. This year we have the added stress of a global pandemic hanging over all of our heads, making this holiday season extremely different from normal years. This makes self-care even more important than it normally is! Check out these 5 ways to care for yourself during the holidays!
Care for Yourself By Nurturing Your Mental Health
Your mental health can take a hit during the holiday season. A way to practice self-care is to take care of your mental health. You can do this by scheduling an appointment with your caring counselor who would love to help you develop techniques to cope with the pressure and stress that comes with the holiday season. Even better, you can do that from the comfort of your living room in your coziest PJs with online counseling.
Eating Healthy and Drinking Enough Water Can Help You Feel Better
Eating healthy will make you feel better and can help your overall mental and physical well being. If you are someone who often feels guilty or worries about overeating during the holidays, this small resolution can make a big difference.
Drinking enough water can help in much the same way as eating healthy. It is said that you need almost half of your body weight in ounces of water a day. This can clear up your skin, help you lose weight, and can overall make you feel like your strongest, healthiest self.
Take a Relaxing Bath to Unwind and Let Go of Stress
Baths may not be your thing, but taking intentional time to unwind and release stress is necessary for everyone!
If you’re a bath-lover, you can take an hour to yourself to run a hot bath, light a candle, add some bubbles or a bath bomb and slip into some peace and quiet or add your favorite book, tv show, or movie. That’s a great opportunity to practice deep breathing exercises to de-stress from the day and prepare for bed.
Taking a peaceful walk around your neighborhood to enjoy the weather, preparing a meal, or getting in a quick workout can all accomplish the same thing! Whatever you decide to do, be sure to put down the day’s stress and take time to focus on things that bring you joy.
Find Joy by Reading a Book or Diving into Your Favorite Hobby
If you are a reader you know there is nothing like getting lost in the world of the book you are reading. It’s a way to escape your worries and stresses and immerse yourself into another world. I often lose track of time when I get into a good book. Promising myself just one more chapter over and over until I’ve been reading for hours on end. This is a great way to take time for yourself around the holiday season. And with this chilly weather, tis the season for snuggly indoor activities like curling up with a new mystery novel! For me, I am choosing my favorite author, Janet Evanovich’s new book “Fortune and Glory” .
Another way to practice self-care is to take some time to dive into your favorite hobby.
Whether it’s crafting, decorating, cleaning, or hunting, practicing an old hobby or learning a new one is a great way to care to find joy during a stressful season.
Take a Nap or Go to Bed Early
The last simple self-care tip I have for you is to simply take a nap or go to bed early. So many of us don’t get enough sleep all year long, and oftentimes, the holidays make sleep deprivation worse. On average adults need anywhere between 7-9 hours of sleep per night to be fully rested. Studies show that 1 in 3 people are not getting enough sleep. Taking a nap or simply going to bed early is one of the easiest ways to help you get the amount of sleep that your body needs to function at its best!
These are just a few ways to practice self-care during this strange and stressful holiday season. 2020 has been an insane year and will change how our holidays are going to look. Take care of yourself, it is SO important!
What's Next?
Ready to take your next step? Request an Appointment with a Mindsight counselor.
What online counseling options do I have? There are lots of great telehealth treatment options and lots of incredible therapists to choose from. Check it out!
What is Mindsight Behavioral Group all about? Mindsight has locations throughout Kentucky and they are dedicated to making sure their clients are cared for. Learn more here!
What if I own a mental health group practice and need extra support and resources during this time? We have just the thing! Kasey Compton, CEO of Mindsight Behavioral Group, is incredibly passionate about helping other practices succeed! Check out KC Consulting!
Looking for a supportive community for group practice owners, check out Mindsight Partners.
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