Holiday Stress

It’s that time of year when there is a lot to tend to beyond the regular day to day tasks in our lives. It is easy for me to become overwhelmed trying to get it all done too. I have to remind myself to step back and let things be when the “to do” list and my energy level don’t exactly balance.

This is a good time of year to practice healthy coping skills.

We can practice mindfulness by using our senses to take in the world around us right in the moment we are currently in. Smell the smells, see the colors and textures, hear the sounds, savor the tastes, feel the ground underneath us and describe in our mind what we are experiencing.

We can follow our breath as it enters and exits our body from beginning to end for brief or lengthier periods of time. We can purposefully allow our breath to slow down and calm us.

We can make certain to get plenty of rest and eat healthy foods to give our body the fuel it needs to keep us going. We can keep up with getting regular exercise making that a priority too.

We can make our “to do” list match the time we have available, and remember to keep it simple and our expectations realistic.

We can learn to say no including to ourselves and that one more item we think we just have to get done.

It can be easy to skimp on taking care of ourselves as the days grow closer to the holidays. We pay a price when we do that however. And, so can those around us when our patience level diminishes irritability can get the best of us.We can say and do things later we regret.

We deny ourselves the experience of joy this season can bring when we don’t take care of ourselves and make that an important part of our holiday experience.

My wish for you is to take very good care of yourself this holiday season!

What can you do to practice healthy self care this season?