Holiday Self-Care - Nov/Dec 2024
The holidays are meant to be happy, relaxing times, but for many of us, the holidays bring raised expectations and extra family, work, & social obligations which can quickly add up to higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Be aware of this and take steps to make sure the stress does not overwhelm you.
Scheduling 15 minutes of alone, uninterrupted “me time” each day can help you to more easily manage all the extra tasks and obligations you have during the holidays and also year-round.
Helpful Tips:
- Learn to say “no”. Saying “yes” to every request for your time can leave you feeling overwhelmed. If you can’t say “no” to a specific request, remove something else from your schedule.
- Relax by yourself each day . Spending 15 minutes alone doing something you enjoy, without any distractions, can refresh you enough to help you better manage the rest of your day.
- Be realistic. Be thankful. Don’t expect a “perfect” holiday. Appreciate what you have – the good things around you. Be mindful of the people, pets, places, or other things for which you are thankful.
- Reach out if you feel lonely/isolated. Talk to friends or family. Seek out community, religious, or other social events. Volunteer time to help others.
- Be Kind. Set aside differences - try to accept friends & family as they are, even if they don't live up to your expectations. Remember that your family, friends, and co-workers may also be struggling with holiday stress.
- Don't abandon healthy habits. Get quality sleep. Exercise regularly. Fit in some healthy snacks and meals.
- Visit the Health & Wellness Office or your health or mental health provider for assistance if anxiety or depression is making it difficult for you to complete your daily routines.
The Importance of Good Self-Care
Stress depletes our body’s reserves and wears us down. Self-care restores our body’s reserves and helps us to function at our best. Without good self-care we become excessively tired, irritable, and less productive; we don’t look as good and aren’t as fun to be around; we are more vulnerable to physical & mental illnesses.
Sleep is the most important component of good self-care. Make sleep a priority. Quality deep sleep is the best means of restoring our body’s depleted reserves. Learn more about sleep debt.
Mindfulness is second only to sleep in its ability to restore us. Practice focusing your attention on what you are experiencing with your senses in the current moment (i.e. what you are seeing, feeling, hearing, smelling, or tasting). Try this next time you are:
- enjoying a coffee/tea/meal
- cuddling with a pet
- walking to class
- stretching/deep breathing
Being in the present moment keeps your mind from thinking/worrying about the past or the future, giving your mind a much needed break.
