The holiday season is typically known as “the most wonderful time of the year.”
Spending time with family, attending dinners and picking out gifts can be a lot of fun – but can also be stressful and tiring.
Practicing self care is essential 365 days a year.
However – it is much more important during busy and/or stressful events such as the holidays.
If you feel like you are taking on too much or need a break, it’s okay to respect your body’s limits.
Not sure how or where to begin? Keep on reading.
Accept Your Needs
It’s so important to carve out time for self care.
We are all human and can only go so long without taking a break.
If a friend or family member asks you to do something, it’s okay to say no if you don’t think you can handle it.
Regularly check in with yourself and think about your needs and wants.
If a certain activity brings you joy, keep on doing it.
And if a certain activity brings on stress, it may be time to walk away or at least cutback.
Taking Shortcuts
Believe it or not, shortcuts are absolutely okay and even encouraged in certain situations.
If you feel like you have too much on your plate, you can certainly ask for help or scale back on commitments.
Focus on Your Breathing
Whether you’re feeling relaxed, overwhelmed or an emotion in between, taking slow deep breaths regularly is key.
Carving out a few minutes a day to sit down and do nothing other than focus on your breathing can help reduce stress and bring on a new sense of calm.
You can practice deep breathing anytime and anywhere.
The more you practice, the sooner it will become a habit.
“There are times when we stop, we sit still. We listen and breezes from a whole other world begin to whisper.” —James Carroll
