Holidays can be absolutely cray and stressful as heck.
Like you left your cup of cheer on top of your car as you drove off, and you’re halfway across town before you realize that it spilled all over the cold, hard pavement miles ago.
Ok maaaaybe I’m being dramatic but I know I’ve felt in the midst of all the Mariah Carey, All I Want For Christmas- infused holiday-ness, that I just want to get under my covers at night and wake up with EVERYTHING done in the morning!
BUT WAIT. There is a better way.
I’m going hardcore chill this year, planning and taking care of myself like the goddess that I am. I want to share my best tips with you for taking care of your beautiful self this holiday season, too.
10 Ways to Rock Your Self-Care this Holiday Season
Dry Brushing – Keep you lymph moving and your skin fresh with this tool. Do this before you get in the shower. Start at your feet and brush upwards. Brush your torso up towards your armpits and do the same with your arms. The back of the body wraps around to the front.
Facial Gua Sha – This Traditional Chinese Medicine tool can help to reduce wrinkles, stimulate collagen, reduce puffiness and tonify your organs (they’re connected to different areas of the face like reflexology). There are Gua Sha tools that are made with the face in mind so they’re more delicate on the skin. Make sure to use plenty of oil.
This is the one I just ordered because I got tired of holding the tiny piece of agate stone, I was using. I haven’t received it yet, as of this posting but I will update when I do.
Veg up! – Keep your diet super healthy in between holiday events. Pack in as many colorful veggies and fruits as you can to stay in balance and well.
Aromatherapy – Our sense of smell is directly connected to our emotional center in the brain. An easy way to stay chill, uplifted or whatever else you want to feel is to use essential oils. Try Cedarwood and Lavender to chill and citrus oils and mints will keep you uplifted. They also help to support your immune system.
Go to bed earlier – We tend to need more sleep in the winter time. That paired with busy and festive holiday times is a great reason to go to bed earlier so your body can do it’s rejuvenation magic.
Schedule breaks – Don’t overestimate how much you can do in the day. Schedule buffers and breaks to catch up and take a mental and physical rest. That will make you more efficient when you’re actively doing things.
Backwards engineer the month, on paper – Begin with the end in mind. Write down everything that needs to be done by the end of the month and schedule backwards. See how much time you have to do everything you want and cut out what isn’t necessary. Leave time to enjoy your holidays!
Hydrate first – Drink 16-20 ounces of water right after waking before anything else. This will help your body detoxify itself, get everything moving and support the skin, joints and tissues. When it’s colder sometimes thirst isn’t as noticeable. This will get you ahead from the start.
Dedicate yourself time before the day – I know for me, if I don’t do it first thing in the morning, it’s much harder to take that time. Life will keep handing you things to do. Make yourself a priority and fill up with some physical exercise, meditation and reading (or listening to) something that inspires you or helps you grow.
Stay active – It’s easy to stay inside and lounge around when it’s colder or when we eat less than ideal foods/drinks for our body. The best way to feel better after a night of indulgence (and it’s kind of counter intuitive) is to move around and a get a sweat going. That will help you flush out what you need to get rid of faster. Moving around is also a great way to keep your energy up and your immune system strong.
*BONUS – Set intentions before a holiday gathering on how you want to connect with people or make them feel. i.e. loved, listened to, appreciated… Visualize it right before the gathering and breathe it into your heart center.
Do you have any self-care rituals that help you get through the holidays? I’d love to hear them and your feedback on these. Leave a comment below!
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