Prioritize Yourself This Holiday Season

The Christmas rush is on, so it’s important to take care of yourself amidst the flurry of holiday preparations and social gatherings.

Holiday buying, baking, and memory-making can be joyous, but they are also significant sources of stress as we try to create a flawless celebration amidst the chaos. It’s wonderful to share in the holiday spirit and give to friends and family, but it’s equally essential to give to yourself.

Yet, more often than not, self-care and healthy stress management don’t make our holiday to-do list. Instead, we’re tempted to turn to unhealthy behaviors—like overindulging in rich foods, having a few too many festive cocktails, getting less sleep, and spending too much time on screens—as a way to cope with the mounting pressures.

Stressors like social obligations, financial strain, and the emotional weight of family expectations can take a toll on our well-being. Recognizing these stressors and paying attention to your body’s signals—anger, irritability, headaches, muscle tension, or lack of energy—can help you address and minimize their impact on your overall health.

Prioritizing healthy ways to manage stress is a gift of self-care. That way, you can approach the season in a more relaxed and mindful way, with energy and a positive mindset. You’ll enter the new year feeling less exhausted, with a sense of peace and renewal.

These self-care activities can help you sleigh the holiday hustle and bustle, while also preserving and improving your mental, physical, and emotional health:

• Meditation and deep breathing
• Exercise
• Socializing
• Hobbies
• Volunteering
• Journaling
• Therapeutic treatments

Take a 20-minute time-out daily. Make time for movement, meditation, and small acts of self-care. Focus on activities you enjoy, like taking a nap, soaking in a hot bath, journaling, reading, or baking. Massages and hydrotherapy offer a world of wellness that relaxes and rejuvenates both mind and body. Stay connected with loved ones for support and companionship—those who uplift your emotional health.

Keep yourself primed by eating right, drinking plenty of water, getting outside, and prioritizing rest and sleep. Stick to your regular sleep, eating, and exercise routines as much as possible.

Try not to get overwhelmed by the pressure to make everything perfect and create the “best day ever” for everyone. Unreasonable expectations often set us up for overwhelm, anxiety, and disappointment. Set boundaries and know your limits.

Don’t overschedule yourself. Focus on doing more of what you truly want to do—the things that bring you happiness—rather than what you feel you “should” do. It’s okay to turn down an invitation if it means you’re not spreading yourself too thin with superficial engagements. Safeguard your time and energy by delegating tasks.

Try to limit travel time. Opt for direct flights to reduce exhaustion and the stress of rushing from one plane to another. Limit car time, too. Choose just a few out-of-town events that are near and dear to your heart, rather than racing around and enjoying none of them.

Manage gift-giving and stick to your holiday budget. Spending beyond your means creates financial stress. Consider giving gifts of self-care to others, such as all-natural body products, organic teas for a relaxing at-home spa experience, or gift cards for a body treatment to give them some much-needed “me time.”

A one-size-fits-all way to practice winter wellness is by planning a post-holiday getaway for self-care. Escape the hustle with an overnight stay at Ste. Anne’s Spa, or enjoy a solo, all-inclusive day. Delight in delicious food, afternoon tea, and relaxation in our soothing hydrotherapy pools, peaceful treatment rooms, and cozy accommodations—a sanctuary for relaxation and rejuvenation.

Practice gratitude this season. Reflecting on the things you’re thankful for can help you truly appreciate the small joys and moments, and boost your mood and outlook. Volunteering gives back to others and helps us stay mindful and connected to the present, reducing the overwhelm of past regrets and future anxieties.

This holiday season, commit to being as kind to yourself as you are to others. Gift-wrap self-care and put yourself at the top of your “nice” list too!