‘Tis the Season for Self-Care

The holidays are a special time of year. They can also be incredibly busy, hectic, and stressful. That’s why it’s so important to set aside some dedicated self-care time in between all the family, friends, travel, and celebrations. This month, we’re sharing our top self-care tips and rejuvenation strategies to stay healthy through the holiday season (and beyond!).

Holiday Self-Care for Mental Health

Parties, family time, and gifts all sound fun. And usually they are! But, for some, they can also create extra mental load or be a source of stress and anxiety. The shorter days and colder weather may also contribute to a type of seasonal depression, known as S.A.D. Luckily, if you struggle with mental health during winter or just need some extra help during the holidays, there are lots of solutions to try.

Light Therapy

Use a light box daily for at least 30 minutes

Sunshine

Get out into natural light whenever possible

Regulate Sleep

Stick to a schedule to get the rest you need and feel more balanced

Value-Driven Decisions

Make choices based on your personal values

Budget

Set an amount for gifts to avoid added financial stress

Mindfulness

Check in with yourself, meditate, and practice self-care

Schedule Fun

Spend time with loved ones or doing activities you enjoy

Set Boundaries

Say “no” to things you don’t feel comfortable with or have energy for

Therapy

Reach out to a Mental Health provider if you need more help

Medication

Talk to your provider about options

Holiday Self-Care for Physical Health

The holidays often interrupt our daily routines, making it difficult to stick to diet and fitness plans. All the travel and celebrations in the midst of cold and flu season can also expose us to more germs than usual. But with a little extra effort, you can stay active and hopefully avoid getting sick.

Get Vaccinated
This is the best protection against the flu and COVID

Exercise

Winterize your workouts to stay moving
Try yoga, pilates, or any videos you like from home
Get a walking pad or fitness ball for your desk
Invest in an elliptical, stationary bike, or other equipment you’ll use
Lift light weights while you watch tv or in between gift-wrapping

Stretch
Moving cold muscles can lead to injury so warming up and stretching in winter is extra important

Mindful Eating

Make intentional choices during celebrations
Wait 10-15 minutes before going for seconds to give yourself time to feel full
Make sure to add some veggies and fruits to your plate
Try not to sit right next to buffets if that’s too tempting
If you’re cooking, try to limit butter, cream, sugar, and red meat
Have a pre-party high-protein snack so you’re not starving when you arrive

Stay Hydrated
Make sure to get enough water, especially if you’re drinking alcohol

Wash Your Hands
Minimize your risk of catching and spreading germs

Clean Surfaces
Regularly disinfect high-touch areas and devices

Holiday Self-Care for Relaxation

Relaxation is important for physical and mental health. Even if you’re feeling good, setting aside time to do nothing but relax, however you like to, can work wonders for your overall well-being. If you’re new to self-care, we’ve got some tried and true strategies to help you get started.

Meditation

Try a guided meditation video for 5 minutes. It can help reduce stress and boost your immune system.

Conscious Breathing

Pay attention to your breath and how you feel as you inhale and exhale. It can improve your mood, aid digestion, and help you sleep better.

Journaling

Spend 5-10 minutes a day writing out your thoughts. Getting them out of your head and onto paper can be a huge relief.

Hot Baths

A nice long soak feels great and can help relieve muscle and joint tension as well as improve circulation.

Spa Day

Book a treatment at your favorite spot or turn your bathroom into a home-spa where you can pamper yourself.

Unplug

Ditch your devices and read a book, take a walk, listen to music or a podcast, or cuddle with your pets.

Enjoy a Happy & Healthy Holiday

Whether you’ll be traveling to see family, party-hopping around town, hosting at yours, or having a more low-key quiet and cozy holiday, the best gift you can give to yourself and others is good health. So try out some tried and true or totally new self-care routines. They’re a great tool to maintain balance and wellness all year long.

Clinical Corner