Not only can the holiday season be stressful, but it can also cause us to get distracted from our own self-care routines. There’s too much else that needs to be done, and often taking care of ourselves can be the first thing we drop. We’ve got some tips for you on how to maintain your self-care for the upcoming holiday season!
Take care of your body
This means drinking your water (experts recommend 3.7 liters for adult men and 2.7 liters for adult women), eating the foods that nourish your body, getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep, and moving your body.
That’s a lot, right? It can be hard to do even in the best of times.
- Set timers to remind you to stop and take a drink of water or get one of those water bottles with times marked on the bottle. You can even get apps that will reward you when you’ve logged your water intake.
- Food is always a challenge around the holiday season. Don’t deprive yourself! But maybe before going to your aunt’s house, you can have a healthy snack so you’re not devouring an entire bowl of mashed potatoes and gravy by yourself. You could even try our favorite smoothie recipe after an indulgent night for a little reset.
- Some tips for getting better sleep include keeping a bedtime routine, making sure you don’t consume caffeine or big meals before going to sleep, and creating an environment conducive to sleep by keeping your room cool, dark, and quiet.
- Experts recommend at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day. This doesn’t mean you have to go out and run a marathon! A brisk walk, a yoga class, or even dancing in your kitchen all help. If you have trouble getting 30 uninterrupted minutes, you can break up the 30 minutes into smaller sessions.
Meditation
Meditation should absolutely be part of your self-care routine during the holidays. If you’ve never started or been able to maintain a mediation practice, it all starts with your space. Read our post on how to set up an ideal meditation space for some tips. Once you’ve got your space set up, start with just five minutes a day. If you find it difficult to close your eyes during meditation, you can also choose something to focus on, like a lit candle flame, or even an object, like a stone you place in front of you. You can choose to meditate with a mantra, by counting your breaths, or neither. The best way to meditate is the one that works for you. Set a timer and let yourself go. You might even feel more comfortable with a guided app. The most important thing in a meditation practice is consistency.
Yoga
Obviously, yoga is a huge part of our self-care routine here at Health Yoga Life. The benefits of yoga are numerous and have been studied many times. With everything going on around you, it might be difficult to get away for a full yoga class. Check out a few of the poses we talked about in this post about restful poses. You might only have time for a few, but even a few minutes of yoga can be beneficial. We also offer several 30-minute classes in our On Demand Library, for when you’re strapped for time. Try doing a few sun salutations while your turkey is in the oven, or even just resting in Child’s Pose in a quiet corner of your living room. Make this time for yourself and your body, and your mind, will thank you!
Breathing
We don’t think a lot about breathing most of the time, but you can really help your body reset with several different breathing techniques. Feeling frazzled? Check out our post on Ujjayi, or Victorious Breath to help you gain a moment of peace.
You can also use what is called a Box Breathing technique. First you inhale for four counts, hold that breath for four counts, then exhale for four counts. You can close your eyes to really help you focus on evening your breath.
Taking care of your body, meditation, yoga, and using these breathing techniques will all help you on your self-care journey during the holiday season. Start with one of these tips and see how you feel!