The holiday season has started, and we often focus on everything else but ourselves. Here are some tips to help you get through the holidays by practicing self-care, focusing on your own needs, and honoring yourself throughout the process.
Don’t Overbook Your Schedule
You might be invited to attend so many events this holiday season, but you don’t always have to say yes. Yes, it will feel good to get out of the house and celebrate with family and friends this year because of the relaxed mask mandates, but be mindful of your energy.
We tend to focus on buying gifts, spending time with family, and celebrating with friends. However, we often don’t take the time to work self-care into our schedules. The best way to manage this in the past is by scheduling everything into a calendar. It can be a paper calendar or a calendar directly connected to your email. I found that blocking time out every day for the things I need to do helps me from overbooking my time.
Don’t Listen To Other People’s Opinions
Whatever other people think doesn’t matter. Other people will always have their opinions, but it’s up to you to listen to them. It’s your choice. If someone has a negative opinion about how you spend your holiday or criticizes how you celebrate it, ignore it. They have no reason to dictate what you do or how you do it. It’s your life.
The best thing I ever did for myself was to stop comparing myself to others and allow their opinions to dictate how I felt.
Give Back To Your Community
If you enjoy giving back, spend the holidays by giving back to your local community. It’s a perfect way to spend time with your friends and family while also helping others who are less fortunate than you. It will give you such a rewarding feeling knowing that you helped out so many people in need during the holiday season.
Use your time volunteering to serve food at a homeless shelter, make blankets for the elderly home, or even help give toys to children through local schools or town organizations. It will fill you with pride and happiness.
Don’t Give In To Peer Pressure
The holidays are such a wonderful time of year and shouldn’t be ruined by someone forcing you to do something you don’t want to do. Don’t give in to peer pressure. No matter what the circumstance is.
I’ve had situations where I was pressured into buying people specific gifts because they wanted them and I wanted to make them happy, but in reality, I shouldn’t have spent that kind of money. I gave into peer pressure, which made me resentful and didn’t make me happy. Be sure you honor yourself and say no.
I hope you enjoy the holidays this year, no matter how you spend them! Enjoy your free time and live your life your way.
Let me know your favorite part about the holidays in the comments below!
Your post was a good reminder of how to honor one’s self this holiday season and also set boundaries! I can totally relate to the peer pressure part! Just the other day I got pressured into buying something because they kept pressuring me to.