How to Make Time for Self-Care and Romanticize Your Life During the Holiday Season

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The holiday time means there’s usually little time for self-care – who else is going to take care of all the cooking and baking, the gifts, the decorations, and so on?! But this isn’t the season of doing – ’tis the season to…take good care of yourself!

While the end of the year should be a moment of relaxation and shared joy, it usually ends up being super stressful!

BUT. (You know me, I’m a girl of “but”s)

There is a way to enjoy the holidays without having them drain all of your energy – and I’m about to share this secret with you! 😉

Are you ready to find how to balance self-care during the winter holidays and romanticize this wonderful time of the year? Then, let’s get started!

Last update: November 8, 2024

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Why is It Important to Take Care of Yourself During the Holidays?

You know how, when you’re flying on an airplane, they say to “put your oxygen mask on first” before helping others?

Well, the same rule applies when it comes to the holidays and self-care, because…you can’t pour from an empty cup!

As mentioned in this article by Headspace:

“Looking after yoruself is not selfish; it’s not just for you. It also benefits the people around you.”

– Andy Puddicombe

As the holiday season requires us to be extra social, more productive, super organized, and extremely patient (especially with your Auntie Karen) – it’s no surprise that many of us start feeling overwhelmed and stressed out around Christmas time…

That’s why, if you want to live the holiday season happily and stress-free, you need to commit to one more thing: extra self-care.

This is something you do for you and you only. It comes from you. It benefits you.

While you might be worried about having to add another thing to your endless to-do list, I really hope you make time every day for 5 minutes of self-care.

You can always find 5 minutes in your day to fill your own cup.

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Where to Start with Self-Care?

Before we dive into the 7 best self-care tips for the holiday season, it’s important that you first check in with yourself.

Are your primary needs being met, at this time?

Because yeah, I could go on for the next 10 minutes telling you small ways you could take care of yourself but, if your basic needs are not satisfied, then it doesn’t make sense.

I’m telling you, you can stop reading the article right here.

But. (Yep, it’s the second one today!)

If you really want to thrive through ’tis season, here are the 6 basic ways you should be taking care of yourself:

• Aim to get 7-9h of sleep
• Prioritize daily movement
• Focus on nourishing your body
• Ensure you spend time in nature
• Carve out some alone time
• Seek ways to connect with others

These are the 6 areas of your life you should take care of before taking your holiday self-care to the next level.

Once you’ve got those covered, it’s time to step up your game!

7 Best Self-Care Tips for the Holiday Season

Ready to find out how to not merely survive, but thrive, this holiday season? Then, let’s get started!

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1. Set boundaries

The first and most important thing you must do stepping into the holidays is to set clear boundaries.

Yeah, I know I’m starting this list with a tough one – but it’s 100% worth it!

Once you’ve defined your boundaries, you’ll be able to go through the holidays with a much more relaxed approach.

For example: if you promised yourself that you won’t end up working extra hours (like you did last year) only to please your boss, next time you’ll be asked to work overtime you’ll know what to say.

Or, if you don’t want to take on all the hosting and cooking for Christmas, you can gently decline your auntie’s invitation to gather at your place.

Set clear boundaries ahead of time so that you won’t be taken aback as others’ demands and invites start piling up.

Setting boundaries is an underrated form of self-care, but it’s also the one that will allow you the most to live the upcoming holiday season stress-freely.

You can set boundaries in many areas of your life. Some examples include:

• Relationship boundaries – How you allow people to treat you
• Financial boundaries – What you’re willing to (not) spend money on
• Professional boundaries – How you will approach and be approached at your job
• Time boundaries – What you’re willing to spend your time on
• Emotional boundaries – What topics, feelings, and beliefs you’re comfortable with sharing or not

Setting clear boundaries will help you navigate the holidays, as it can help you:

• Say ‘no’ to what you don’t want to do
• Carve out some alone time
• Express your feelings and emotions more clearly
• Address unresolved issues
• Live in alignment with your truest self

2. Do a digital detox

With social media becoming a crucial part of our day-to-day lives, spending too much time on your phone can be highly detrimental to your mental health.

I mean, I’m sure you have experienced some FOMO on a random Thursday night, as you’re lying on your bed while everybody else seems to be partying and having fun…Yikes, it doesn’t feel good!

With the whole world being only one digital tap away, the comparison we make between our lives and those of others is inevitable.

How many times have you closed Instagram or TikTok thinking “I wish I had his or her life”? When, actually, there’s nothing wrong with the way you’re living yours!

Stop comparing your lowest moments with someone else’s highlights – that’s not real!

Everybody is just out there posting the perfect picture, reel, or story.

It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the most authentic one…

People won’t post their family members arguing about politics or sexuality. They won’t show you the burned side of the turkey. You won’t get to see everybody lying sluggishly on the couch while only one person takes care of the cleaning.

I’ll tell you what you’ll see, instead.

You will see Christmas trees full of presents. Tons of food on excessively decorated tables. You will see everybody laughing and making their toast on someone’s stories. You will see the cool Christmas outfits, not their price tags.

So, if you want to practice some self-care during the holiday season, I highly recommend you do a digital detox.

A digital detox doesn’t mean you can’t touch your phone for weeks. Actually, it looks different for everyone.

The only important thing? That after doing it, you feel better than you felt before.

Here are some tips to help you reduce your time online:

• Set a “no screen time” rule for the first hour after waking up
• Set a “no screen time” rule for the last hour before going to sleep
• Go phone-free for a full day
• Unfollow or mute accounts that don’t make you feel good
• Set a daily time limit for your phone usage

3. Prioritize rest

Other than making sure you get a good 7-9 hours of sleep each night, you should also indulge in getting some rest during the holiday season.

Yeah: sleeping and resting are two different things!

Sleeping ensures you physically recharge while resting is more about mentally recharging.

If you’re lying on your couch, thinking about everything you have to do, are you sure you’re resting?

Yes, your body is relaxing – but your mind is spinning around.

Self-care does not mean putting a face mask on, getting your nails done, and washing your hair – and that’s it, you’re good to go! You can do all these things while still stressing out.

Self-care means recharging your batteries before you get drained out – which is likely to happen more often than ever during the holidays!

Here are some activities to mentally rest during the winter:

• Practice meditation
• Bake
• Listen to music
• Do yoga
• Get a massage
• Take a 20-minute power nap
• Drink tea
• Paint
• Take a nature walk
• Do a digital detox
• Socialize
• Color adult books
• Do a puzzle
• Journal

4. Journal about your feelings

It’s no surprise that journaling is one of the best forms of self-care!

Unless you’re already doing it, I highly recommend you start journaling daily.

This article mentions all the benefits of journaling, but here are my favorites:

• Reduced stress levels
• More clarity
• Helps process emotions
• Enables self-discovery

PS. Grab here the FREE “50 Journaling Prompts for Self-Discovery”

If you’re feeling worried, anxious, overwhelmed, or sad – this is what I want you to do: grab a pen and paper, and start writing it all out!

Journaling about your emotions allows you to distance yourself from what you’re feeling, getting a better perspective on what’s going on.

Don’t keep everything in your head. Journal it all out.

5. Stick to a flexible routine

Sticking to a routine during the winter time is tough – especially if you suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).

How can you keep up your motivation and be consistent with healthy routines and habits when everything is dark and gloomy?

I get it. This is the thing I struggled with the most (and sometimes still do).

One trick I found helpful, though, was adopting a soft routine for those cold, cozy months.

READ HERE: “The Perfect Cozy Morning Routine to Feel at Your Best”

A soft routine is the perfect mix of consistency and flexibility: it allows you to make progress without putting excessive pressure!

So, as you transition to the colder months of the year, take a look at your current routine and think of ways you could tweak it and tailor it to the season.

Here are some examples of how you can do that:

• Exercising outside ➔ Hitting the gym
• Finishing work later in the day ➔ Starting your day earlier
• Sunday brunch ➔ Sunday reset routine
• Wild nights out ➔ Cozy movie nights-in
• Walking after dinner ➔ Going for a walk first thing in the morning

6. Get organized

Another form of self-care you’ll benefit from – especially during the busy holiday season – is to get super organized!

Set a 15-minute timer, grab a paper and a pen, and start jotting down everything that crosses your mind.

Staying organized will help you feel more in control of whatever is going on in your life.

Having millions of different thoughts without having a clear plan on how to act on them is not the best strategy…

So, what’s stressing you out? It’s now time to put it down on paper!

Create a list for everything!

Seriously, here are some list ideas to help you best navigate the holidays:

• Gift ideas
• Recipes to make
• Life goals for the New Year
• Holiday bucket list
• Christmas cards
• Invitations
• Grocery shopping
• Holiday expenses
• Presents wishlist
• Holiday activities

Once it’s on the list, it can’t stop being on your mind!

7. Be more mindful

Finally, the last form of self-care – which is also the most important one – is bringing mindfulness into your days.

This applies not only to the holidays, but you’ll definitely want to pay special attention to it during this magical time.

When you’re fully grounded in the present, every moment becomes even more meaningful.

The best gift you could give to someone is your total, undivided attention.

Don’t go through the holidays constantly thinking about the next thing to do, or already planning the new year while forgetting to live in the here and now.

Be where your feet are.

That’s my best tip to make this holiday season the most wonderful one!

So, realistically speaking, how can you be more mindful every day? It can be as simple as:

• Sipping your morning cup of coffee while doing nothing else
• Setting an intention for the day
• Reducing the amount of time spent online (see point #2)
• Tuning in with your body and mind when doing anything
• Practicing active listening
• Eating more slowly
• Having a relaxing nighttime routine
• Practicing meditation, even only for 2 minutes a day
• Expressing your gratitude
• Doing one thing at a time, saying bye-bye to multitasking

Being more mindful is quite simple, but it’s not easy.

There’s no rulebook about mindfulness – it’s all about the way you approach your life.

Holiday Self-Care Checklist

5 Activities to Romanticize the Holiday Season

The next question is: “How can you make this magic period of the year even more magical?”

Here are some ideas to romanticize the holiday season:

1. Set the tone for the holidays

What kind of vibe do you want to go for, this year?

Do you want to approach slow, soft living? Or go fully in with the prepping and decorating?

Would you prefer prioritizing social activities or alone time?

Do you want to stick to a bucket list or approach the season more spontaneously?

As you set a theme and tone when decorating your house for the holidays, also try doing the same for how you mentally want to live the winter season!

2. Find beauty in the season

If you’re a summer lover (like me), it might be hard to embrace the leaves changing color and the sky getting dark earlier.

Personally, I struggled a lot with this. But, recently, I’ve learned that there’s no purpose in resisting it.

Change is going to happen – whether we embrace it or not.

Nature is one of the greatest teachers: it shows that we should probably learn to flow with change.

I mean, is there anything you can do about the season changing? Can you prevent it or stop it in any way?

The answer is no…

But, while you can’t change what happens on the outside, you have total control over how you decide to react to whatever happens around you.

3. Create holiday traditions

One of the best ways to romanticize the holiday season is to create rituals and traditions that can help you make it feel more special.

Whether with your family, your significant other, your friends – or even solo -, here are some holiday traditions you could try out:

• Doing a Christmas movie marathon
• Hosting a cookie bake-off
• Volunteering
• Doing secret Santa
• Creating a Christmas-themed playlist
• Hosting a holiday-themed game night
• Making handmade ornaments

4. Plan the new year

Another way to romanticize the cold season is to start anticipating and preparing for the new year!

Of course, this shouldn’t scare you out or make you feel bad in any way – it’s something that should bring you joy! (If it doesn’t, then don’t do it!)

For someone like me, who loves planning and the feeling of a fresh, new start – there’s nothing better than to start thinking about the amazing things that will happen!

While with an eye it’s important to look forward, and so you might start thinking of the new habits and routines to adopt in the new year – it’s also equally important to recognize this: there’s no magical time to change your life!

The perfect moment is right here, right now!

So yeah, as you think of the ways you’re going to change your life soon, why don’t you try applying those changes to your current routine, now?

PS. Here’s how to “Upgrade Your Life Before the Year Ends”. You’re welcome! 😉

5. Do random acts of kindness

Let’s not forget that ’tis is the season of the giving!

One way you can bring more joy into your everyday life – and the ones of others – is through random acts of kindness.

Here are some simple ways you can practice the art of giving (for free, or very little):

• Smile more
• Pay attention to who’s in front of you
• Open the door for someone
• Write a personalized ‘thank you’ note
• Find volunteering opportunities in your community
• Donate unused clothes to local charities
• Say ‘thank you’ more often
• Actively listen to what people have to say
• Prepare a warm meal for someone you love
• Buy a coffee forward
• Compliment someone just for the mere act of saying something nice (which can make someone’s day!)

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Whether you love or dread the holiday season, it’s essential to make time for self-care.

Hopefully, this article helped you understand that you don’t have to go all over the board to practice some self-care during the holidays. It can be as easy as:

1. Setting clear boundaries
2. Doing a digital detox
3. Prioritizing mental rest (other than physical)
4. Journaling out your emotions
5. Sticking to a flexible routine
6. Getting organized
7. Being more mindful every day

Q: “What’s your favorite form of self-care?” Feel free to share your go-to activity in the comments! 🙂

PS. Don’t forget to enjoy the holidays! 😉

Until next time,

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