Even though the holiday season is a wonderful time to spend with loved ones, it can be an overwhelming period if you don't allow yourself to the chance to recharge and reset.
Here, we remind you of six amazing self care practices that can help you during the holiday season to help you avoid emotional stress and reach the new year feeling healthy and refreshed.
1. Practice Regular Meditation
In its simplest form, meditation is a basic practice of stillness, that enables you to clear your mind, reduce anxiety and stress, and to set some form of positive intention.
The reality is that there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to meditation.
Meditation can be done anywhere by anyone and there are different ways to meditate. However, stillness and breath are the common themes that any type of meditation should be built around.
You can do meditation on the front porch at home, by the beach, or in your local neighbourhood park.
Spend 5-10 minutes doing it at night before bed to help you sleep more peacefully, during your lunch break to reset and relieve work related stress, or first thing in the morning to help you approach your day with clarity and intention.
If you need guidance to help you meditate, there are some great Apps you can download onto your smart phone, such as "CALM". Each day, new guided audio meditations are released which you can tune in to and practice at any time that suits you, for as many or as few minutes you have available.
Finally, another valuable reason to meditate is that it helps you to restore a sense of gratitude and to put things into perspective.
Meditation has a way of reminding you about the most important things in life and can make seemingly big problems or challenges not seem so great. This of course, can be a very effective tool for reducing anxiety and stress in your general day to day.
2. Get A Responsible Amount Of Sunshine
Vitamin D is vital for your physical and emotional wellbeing, and of course, one of the greatest sources of Vitamin D is Sunshine.
Sunshine activates emotional molecules in the brain known to stimulate happiness and joy. This is why people who live in climates where the sun regularly shines, tend to have more spring in their step than those who live in cold, dark climates where rates of depression and suicides are high.
Sunshine helps to release "feel-good" chemicals in the brain known as endorphins, which are very powerful for counteracting negative emotions as well as energising your overall body and mind.
A great way to get your daily sunshine fix is by spending 20-30 minutes outside in natural sunlight during the early part of the day before it reaches it's highest intensity.
Sit out in the morning sun with your tea, coffee or fresh juice. Take a walk along the beach and allow your body to absorb the sun's warmth and nutrients. However it is that you choose to get sunshine, just remember it is such a crucial factor in maintaining and boosting your mental and emotional health.
3. Practice Earthing
If you haven’t heard of Earthing, it might quickly become one of your favourite self care habits to support your mind and body wellbeing.
Even though it's such a simple practice, it provides wonderful restorative benefits to your health and wellness.
Earthing or Grounding as it is also commonly known, simply involves connecting your body (usually your bare feet) directly to the earth's surface.
When you do this, your body absorbs free electrons from the Earth which can boost energy, reduce inflammation, decrease stress and improve your mood.
The easiest way to practice earthing is by walking bare footed on the sand at your local beach or on the grass at your local park.
Other versions of earthing can be lying on the grass under a tree whilst reading a book, practicing yoga in the back garden, sleeping on the ground under the stars whilst camping.
The point is that nature and the outdoors is one of the most powerful tools for supporting your mental health and wellbeing and earthing is a simple way to benefit that most people overlook.
Learn more in What is Earthing? And How it Benefits Your Health & Well-Being.
4. Low Impact Exercise Outdoors
Any form of exercise is very beneficial to your mental health, but there is something extra special about exercising outdoors.
Just as earthing does, outdoor exercise activates all of the senses and gives you access to nature and fresh, oxygenated air to clear your lungs, which is quite different to exercising in doors.
Consider doing your morning exercise outside in the morning sunlight so that you get to move your body and get some sun at the same time.
Exercise stimulates dopamine and endorphins (feel good chemicals), which make you happier and help counteract mental health issues. But when you combine this with the other mood-boosting aspects of sunshine, fresh air and the beauty of the outdoors, it adds another dimension to your self care and can elevate your mental health.
Some wonderful outdoor exercises include:
- Tai Chi
- Cycling
- Hiking
- Beach Walking
- Mountain Biking
- Body Surfing
5. Change Your Environment
If you find yourself feeling a little exhausted, run down or uninspired during the holiday season, try changing your environment for a day or two to give yourself new stimulus.
Whether it be going on a short road trip somewhere you haven't been for a while or trying a new fun activity or experience, changing your environment or routine for even one day can help you stay happy, fulfilled and emotionally balanced.
Other helpful ideas, are listening to some of your favourite music or watching a fun movie to help brighten your mood.
6. Be Grateful And Positive
If you find yourself feeling a little stressed, anxious or overwhelmed during the holiday season, remember to think positive thoughts and to practice a moment's gratitude for the things you can be thankful for.
Gratitude is such a simple mindset tool that can shift your entire perspective in an instant if you're experiencing any kind of negative emotion. Focus on the simple things and it will help you to release any tension or anxiety you may be feeling.
The Main Takeaway
The holiday season is meant to be a joyous time, however it can also trigger moments of overwhelm, anxiety and stress.
To ensure that you enjoy your time will family and loved ones and that you're also able to recharge your personal batteries over the holidays, remember to take a little time to practice basic self care along the way.
The tips shared with you here should help you to navigate yourself through the festive period so that you reach the new year feeling the best version of you.
Tolman Self Care.
