6 Tips For Holiday Self-Care

Regular readers know that I am really into self-care. It really is true that in order to be a functional, happy human being, and to also be of service to anyone else (hello, family), you need to carve out time for yourself. I get it though. It can be hard to put yourself first, especially during the holidays. But the good news is that I’m here to remind you that YOU CAN DO IT, and that small tweaks can be enormously helpful. Here are six simple tips for holiday self-care.

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1. Start small!

One of the classic pitfalls in trying to do anything is setting yourself up for failure by making the goal too big. I mean, I'm all about dreaming big, but when it comes to carving out time in your busy schedule, it's key to start small. Start, say, by taking 10-15 minutes to yourself to do something just for you, whether it's sitting and reading a book or flipping through a magazine, knitting, trimming your cuticles (I find bizarre satisfaction and healing in this...), or simply sitting and breathing and doing nothing.

2. Use your to-do list/calendar

Whether it's plugging self-care in as a daily recurring to-do list item or booking monthly bodywork treatments in advance, using your to-do list/calendar in this way is a great motivation for those who like checking things off (cough, cough). I put everything from “exercise” to “take your vitamins!” on my recurring daily to-do.

3. Edit, edit, edit

When I’m overwhelmed my very favorite thing to do is to edit the crap out of my to-do list and calendar. Time is a fixed parameter. To make time for yourself, something else likely will need to give. Look for areas in your schedule, to-do list, and daily chores where you can edit non-essentials out (and/or delegate).

4. Give your relationships some love

I believe that part of nurturing yourself is nurturing your relationships; it's all interrelated. Whether it’s meeting up for coffee with a good friend, to carving out 30 minutes of catch up time with your partner after the kids are in bed can make a world of difference.

5. Take advantage of the extra hands

Around the holidays, if you have family in town or are visiting family, take advantage of the dual function of extra hands + bonding time for your kids and relatives. Resist the urge to run errands and instead do something that nurtures you.

6. Ask for help

And speaking of delegation, one of the best things you can do is ask for help. It’s not a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of trust and confidence in your relationships.