Terri Ramsey Beavers Self-care is often overlooked. Especially this year, as stress and uncertainty has taken over a majority of our lives. Nonetheless, self-care is extremely important as it helps encourage maintaining a healthy relationship with yourself and others.
With the holidays coming up, stress seems to consume us even more due to the pressures that accompany the holiday season — travel plans, hosting relatives and finding the perfect gifts for all your friends and family. So this year, gift yourself by filling your December calendar with some holiday self-care!
Below is a list of self-care ideas to get you started so you can nourish yourself for the holidays and, who knows, you may end up building new healthy habits.
Self Reflection Journaling
One way to calm the mind and unwind after a long stressful day is to journal. Practicing self-reflection journaling can help you set goals for yourself, become more mindful or have a safe place to get things off your mind. If you aren’t sure where to start, check out this free journal entry printable complete with mindful prompts.
Stretch or Practice Yoga
Yoga is a great way to practice self-care as it’s super beneficial to your personal health. Yoga helps relieve stress and anxiety while boosting energy levels and improving your overall sense of well-being. Take at least 10 minutes in the morning or evening to stretch and practice a few yoga poses and reap its benefits.
Write Yourself a Love Letter
An important aspect of self-care is being kind to yourself and practicing self-love, so start by writing yourself a thoughtful love letter. List things you love and admire about yourself, no matter how big or small they might be. If you are in need of a place to begin, check out this printable self-love letter to get you started.
Meditate
Research has proven that regular meditation undoes the damaging effects of stress on our cells, so try and make meditation a part of your daily routine. Not only that, but it can help boost your mood and immune system. Even just a few minutes of quiet and mindful meditation can do wonders for your mental state. During this time, focus on your breath and clearing your head of any negative thoughts or feelings.
Do Something Nice For Someone Else
Since the holiday season is a time for giving, try doing something nice for someone else, whether it’s volunteering at a local organization, donating to charity or buying a meal for the person behind you in line at the drive thru. If you work with a Canadian colleague, you could buy Canadian coffee and drinks online and give them a gift that’s truly meaningful. Helping others does so much for our own emotional and mental health so find a way to give to others and make it an act of self-care. Another fun and cute way to brighten someone’s day is by surprising them with one of these punny and positive holiday cards!
Self-care is all about nourishing yourself and making yourself feel good, so do whatever makes you happy! For more ideas, download this 25 days of self-care calendar, complete with 25 treat yourself ideas courtesy of FragranceX to wrap up the year and start the new year feeling refreshed and rejuvenated!