As we roll into the holidays it’s easy to give our wellness goals the back seat. And while connecting with family and friends is as much a part of our collective wellness as anything, we don’t necessarily have to compromise our individual wellness to make those things happen.
This time of year has a tendency to get really busy, even with less events happening this year, we’ll still start to feel an overwhelm. And our typical response is to cancel the things that only affect us individually. Our self care routines, our physical wellness activities and anything else that we might label as “indulgent”.
But did you know that post holiday depression is a real thing? Due partly to the high emotions of Christmas and the inevitable fall back to normalcy, as well as the financial burden most Americans take on to make the Holidays “memorable”…neglecting your self and your own wellness can also contribute to this phenomenon.
But what can you do? It’s crazy, overwhelming, and stressful. Is there an answer? Here’s a few tips that will help you find yourself a little more balanced come January.
- Schedule your self maintenance on a recurring basis and treat it like you’re meeting the most important person you know for lunch. Seriously. Sit down right now and plan out which days you’ll be going to yoga, getting your nails done, having a massage, reading a book at a coffee shop by yourself…. set it to recurring in your phone and if where you are going takes appointments, schedule them out with them for as long as you can through the end of the year.
- If a friend or a loved one wants to meet, or cookies need to be baked for a party or your 7 year old needs to disguise his turkey… it doesn’t HAVE to take the place of your appointment for yourself. Before saying yes (and you should say yes if you want to) take a minute to look at your calendar and make sure it doesn’t interfere with your appointment for yourself. That hour for your wellness maintenance isn’t your whole day. You can squeeze in the other activity somewhere else. I promise you will find the space.
- If an appointment comes up that can’t be moved, a work Christmas party, family dinner or school recital, make sure you reschedule your self maintenance. Don’t just cancel – reschedule. It takes a minute or two, and there’s most likely another spot you can squeeze it into. Again, this is the most important person you know that you’re making an appointment with.
- Find a friend to commit with, at least through the holidays. Who knows, maybe you’ll be able to keep the routine going into the New Year together and hit the ground running.
- As always, if you mess up, if you miss an appointment with yourself, if you make it through the end of December without attending one thing for you… it is OK. You did not fail and you do not need to heap guilt on yourself. You enjoyed your holidays and made memories and that is the most important thing of all.
If there’s anything else that you’ve found that helps with keeping your sanity during the holidays, feel free to comment below or on our social media posts. We’re always happy to hear other perspectives.
But whatever you choose to do, remember to be kind to yourself, to be kind to others and to shine bright this holiday season. Because Lord knows we need a little extra light this year.
Shine Bright Fireflies!
Kelly