I know that the holidays are supposed to be a joyous time of the year but the reality is that for some people, it’s a whirlwind of stress, anxiety and exhaustion. The good news is that there are ways that you can make it more enjoyable, including the three ways that I like to de-stress during the holidays!
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Three Easy Ways to De-Stress During the Holidays
I’m a firm believer that self-care is important any time during the year, but especially important during the holidays. We are busy trying to juggle a million things on our plate and ironically, feel pressured to say yes to every single invitation that comes our way. As a result, our well-being is put on the back burner and it can be hard to recover. Below are some of my favorite ways to de-stress during the holidays (and any other time of the year)!
Learn to Say No
A lot of us tend to feel guilt when we say no because we don’t want to disappoint the other person. During the holidays, it’s even harder with the abundance of invitations received (and favors being asked), but if we continue to say yes to everything then we a.) leave no time for ourselves and b.) end up feeling exhausted and resentful. Remember that your time is precious and it’s not something you can get back. You are not a charity. You may think that you are making everyone “happy” by saying yes but what you are really doing is stretching yourself too thin and giving yourself impossible expectations to live up to. Learn to say no to the things that you don’t want to do so you can yes to more things that bring you happiness and joy.
Meditate and Practice Positive Affirmations
This is something new I’ve been trying and it works wonders! The holiday season can be incredibly busy and at times it can make you feel bad about yourself, which is never okay. Here are a few ways to rid yourself of that negative energy:
- Remove your negative thoughts and replace them with positive thoughts.
- Create affirmations for yourself and make them a part of your everyday life – I like to write mine on notes that I pin to the bulletin board by my desk as a reminder.
- Stop and take a few deep breaths when you feel overwhelmed.
- Introduce meditation into your schedule – I like to do this first thing in the morning and it can be as little as ten minutes. There are many ways to meditate but I prefer guided meditations on YouTube to really help me get into the right mindset. I typically look up ones for positivity energy, motivation and anxiety.
Outfit Details
Eliza J Sweater Dress c/o (similar) | Mauve Heels (similar) | Chi Chi London Coat c/o (similar here) | Mary Frances Handbag c/o (similar here, love this) | ModCloth Belt (similar) | Gorjana Ring
Take Time for Yourself
During the holidays, everything seems to become more about everyone else and less about you. However, you can’t fully be present (and sane!) without carving out a little of time for yourself. This can look like different things to different people, but I recommend making time to do at least one of your favorite things every single day so you have something to look forward to. And if you’re crazy busy like me then you may have to actually schedule it in order to make that happen because let’s be real…it won’t happen otherwise and burn out is very, very real. Here are a few of my faves:
- Relaxing Bubble Bath – I love using lavender bath salts, bubbles and a frozen gel eye mask to really relax.
- Spa Day – I try to do this at least once a week! I will set aside 30 min or so to relax with a face mask and a good book or magazine. If I have more time, then I’ll go all out with a full body skincare routine and paint my nails.
- Yoga – Yoga is not only great for flexibility and balance but it’s also amazing for relieving stress (among other things)! If you don’t have time to take a class, look up a video on YouTube and have a session right in your home.
- Read – There is something about reading that is so relaxing! Plus it’s always fun to get lost in another reality. Check out my favorite holiday books here!
- Get Outdoors – Take a hike, check out a new place, go for a drive, anything goes. Just get out, enjoy yourself and leave your worries elsewhere!
What are some of your favorite ways to de-stress during the holidays?
xo
