The holiday season, while filled with joy and celebration, can often feel like a marathon—filled with obligations, gatherings, financial stress, and, yes, sometimes family dynamics that test our patience and peace. If we’re not mindful, this season of giving can leave us running on empty. I’ve been there. Can you relate to wanting to make everyone else happy, only to feel completely drained in the process? That’s why practicing self-care during the holidays isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity.
The good news is that you don’t have to sacrifice your well-being to make it through the season. With intentional self-care and firm boundaries, you can enjoy the holidays while prioritizing yourself.
Here’s how to do it.
1. Start with a Self-Care Plan
Think of your self-care routine as a holiday survival kit. Before the season gets hectic, map out how you’ll nurture your body, mind, and spirit.
- Physical Self-Care: Keep your sleep schedule consistent, eat nutritious meals, and move your body regularly—even if it’s just a brisk walk after dinner. Yoga is always my saving grace during the holidays.
- Mental Self-Care: Take breaks from holiday chaos. Use breathing exercises, meditate, or practice mindfulness to stay centered.
- Social Self-Care: Be selective about your commitments. You don’t have to attend every event; protect your energy by saying no when necessary. Embracing a mindset of JOMO (Joy of Missing Out) over FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) might be your greatest gift to yourself this holiday season.
2. Set Boundaries with Toxic Family Members
For many, holiday gatherings can mean spending time with relatives who trigger stress or discomfort. Preserving your peace means setting boundaries with kindness and clarity.
- Prepare Ahead: If you know certain conversations (like politics or your personal life) are landmines, plan gentle but firm ways to redirect them: “Let’s keep the holidays light and avoid heated topics.”
- Limit Exposure: If spending all day with toxic relatives feels overwhelming, create time constraints. For example, commit to attending only part of an event.
- Have an Exit Strategy: Give yourself permission to leave when your emotional cup is full. Blame an early morning or another commitment if you need a graceful way out.
3. Communicate Your Needs
Your loved ones aren’t mind readers. Communicate what you need to feel comfortable and happy during the holidays. This might mean asking for help with hosting duties, setting limits on gift-giving, or requesting time to decompress. The key is to be SPECIFIC— ask, and you might just receive!
4. Schedule Time for Yourself
Amidst the hustle and bustle, carve out intentional moments for yourself.
- Morning Rituals: Start your day with a calming routine, like journaling, sipping tea, or listening to your favorite podcast.
- Solo Activities: Dedicate time to something you love, whether it’s baking, reading, a stroll through a bookstore, or a DIY craft.
- Digital Detox: Limit your screen time to avoid comparison traps and give your mind a break. The one is HUGE. Please take this one seriously.
5. Reframe the Holidays as a Season of Rest
Rather than focusing solely on meeting external expectations, use the holidays as a time to recharge for the year ahead. Reflect on what went well in 2024 and what you want to change in 2025.
6. Practice Gratitude and Grace
Remember that you can’t control others, but you can control how you respond. When faced with challenging situations, focus on what you’re grateful for. Practicing gratitude can shift your perspective and help you find joy, even in the small moments.
7. Close the Year with Intention
End the season by carving out time to rest and reflect. A quiet walk in nature, a restorative yoga session, or writing down your goals for 2025 can help you regroup and enter the new year refreshed. You are entitled, it is your right, to stop, reflect, sit in stillness, and just BE. Perhaps a nice intention might be – creating more white space in your calendar in 2025 to just BE. To be still, and embrace more quiet.
This holiday season, let self-care be your guiding star. By protecting your peace, setting boundaries, and prioritizing rest, you can celebrate the joy of the season without losing yourself in the process.
You deserve it, my friend.
P.S. If self-care really matters to you and you really want to learn how to make it a priority, I would love to invite you to my FREE Self-Care Masterclass. It will 60 minutes of your time well spent.
