Self-Care For The Silly Season

Not only does it mean I am more able to cope in tough times and enjoy the good times, but I’m also more able to show up for and support those around me too.

You can’t pour from an empty cup, after all. So I’ve compiled a few tips to help you fill your own cup at this busy time of year:

1. Carve out some time and space for solitude and reflection each day. This is especially important if you are an introvert, because introverts need alone time to recharge. It’s doubly important if you are a guest in someone else’s home or have guests in your own home over the holidays, as your normal routines will be disrupted and there will be extra social pressures. However even if that doesn’t apply to you, it is still a great time of year to make time for a little introspection. Take some time to reflect on the highs and lows of the year that has passed, and look towards your hopes and goals for next year.
2. Acknowledge your feelings. This can be a very difficult time emotionally, especially if you or those close to you are dealing with illness, grief or difficult family dynamics. Meanwhile, there are messages from all around telling us that we should be joyful and merry and bright, which can be especially jarring if, instead, it feels like the least wonderful time of the year. If this is you, don’t fight it. Let the people around you know how you are feeling so that they can support you if that’s what would help. There is no right or wrong way to feel, despite what the commercials say!
3. Carefully curate the media you expose yourself to. Amidst the Christmas movies and the cricket that fill the airwaves at this time of year, there is often a glut of news stories that leave me with a bad taste in my mouth. From the incredible amount of advertising disguised as news to the frequent reminders about distressing world events, being plugged into the media all day, everyday over the holidays can be an added drain on your emotional energy. If you are already full to the brim, give yourself permission to simply unplug for a few days. Unfollow people on social media that bring you down and avoid leaving the TV on all day, bombarding you with stories designed to make you worry more and spend big. If you absolutely have to stay abreast of current events, set yourself some designated times to check the headlines (e.g. the nightly news) and then bring your awareness back to the people and places around you.
4. Listen to your body. I’m not about to tell you how to eat or move or sleep or think or breathe, because there is no one size approach that fits all. However, I do believe that it is important to be tuned in to the messages your body is sending and to respond accordingly. Perhaps it is asking for some more greens on your plate or a gentle jog before dinner. Maybe it’s telling you to have an extra piece of Gran’s glazed ham and that you are really worn out so you should rest as much as possible (i.e. more sleeping and less jogging!). It’s also common for people to throw all caution to the wind and completely over-indulge, and if that’s what you choose to do, all I’m suggesting is to do so consciously. That way, you’re far less likely to beat yourself up later, which serves nobody, least of all you.

May you have a safe and self-care filled silly season, however you choose to spend it.

Featured image by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash.