Are you feeling as overwhelmed and exhausted as I am right now!? How about a few super simple holiday self-care survival hacks!?
I want to humbly offer you four hacks that I use on the regular, and ESPECIALLY when life feels unmanageable.
But first, let’s take a moment to address how hard life feels right now. Things are ROUGH. They have been for a while now, haven’t they?
And now the holidays are coming at us FULL SPEED! Walking down the aisles at Target last week, I swear I felt like all of the holiday displays were screaming at me – “Hey lady, do you have all of your Christmas decorations!?” I was staring at candy canes and Santa hats and realizing that I hadn’t yet bought Halloween candy for the trick-or-treaters.
GAH!
Midterms are right around the corner, the time change is coming up, and inflation is causing all of us so much stress. There is also still plenty of anxiety about covid and the flu as we consider how we’ll be spending the holidays.
It’s A LOT!
Enter the need for a few super simple holiday self-care hacks!
I really want to encourage you to take a moment and give yourself some credit.
You are a human being with a beating heart who is breathing in and out every single day during an especially tumultuous and uncertain time.
And regardless of how many dishes are currently piled up in your sink or how many emails are sitting in your inbox, you are worthy of love and appreciation, just as you are right now.
Like lots of people, I don’t exactly make the healthiest choices when I’m feeling stressed. I’ve packed on some pounds and gotten a bit “fluffier” since COVID turned the world upside down.
I’ve been having trouble sleeping, my routine is out of whack, and there are plenty of days where I feel like I’ve accomplished next to nothing.
Is any of this resonating with you!?
Here’s some good news though…
I’ve noticed that over the past couple of years, whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed and my nerves are fried, I’m more gentle with myself than I used to be. I’m getting much better at treating myself the way I’d treat a loved one going through a hard time.
I’m convinced this has a lot to do with getting older. But whatever the reason, I am grateful.
There are a few things I’ve learned about myself and I’m sharing them here in case they resonate with you too.
- First, trying to “look” a certain way and fit into a certain pair of jeans doesn’t motivate me to eat healthier or move my body long-term. It might get me up and moving in the short term but ultimately, it just leads to shame and a sense of failure. When I focus on trying to “feel” a certain way, though, (feeling less anxious, more energetic, more peaceful) I often DO feel a sense of commitment.
- Eliminating things from my diet causes me to feel like I’m missing out. Scarcity mindset sets in and the end result is never positive. Adding things, however, often does the trick! When I mindfully drink plenty of water, take my vitamins, and add plenty of fruit and veggies, I tend to crave unhealthy things less.
- Exercising and doing things I hate also don’t work. It’s not sustainable! Instead, when I focus on movement that I enjoy, I look forward to moving my body and I actually follow through.
So instead of berating myself and spiraling into shame and self-loathing, I’m focusing on what I’m calling my “Self-Care Survival Hacks”.
I use these hacks throughout the year but I find that they’re especially helpful during the crazy holiday season.
Super Simple Holiday Self-Care Survival Hacks
- Water
- Nature
- Movement
- Music
This is it! Just four simple things I incorporate into my days that make a world of difference.
WATER: I’m drinking plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated. It helps with my energy a lot.
NATURE: I’m focusing on nature whenever possible. Sometimes it’s as simple as noticing the leaves on a tree or the orchid in my kitchen.
MOVEMENT: I’m moving my body every day. This is often as simple as walking my dog around the neighborhood or stretching for a few minutes before bed.
MUSIC: I listen to music every single day. It’s one thing that often turns my mood around immediately.
I’ve made a simple checklist to help remind me to keep these tools as my top priority throughout the day.
Here’s the checklist, in case you’d like a copy for yourself.
And if you need some more support this holiday season, check out the following blog posts:
So fill up a glass of water, take a moment to appreciate a plant in your neighborhood, take a walk around the block or do some light stretching, and pull up a favorite or suggested playlist.
We’re talking about four simple things that will only take you MINUTES today. So grab your checklist as a loving reminder and prioritize your well-being!
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