With the holidays quickly rolling around, many of us are looking forward to the festivities.
While the holidays are a joyous time for many of us, they can also be stressful. From making plans for your kids to buying gifts to decorating, many elements go into the holidays.
By taking time for yourself this holiday season, you can spare yourself a lot of unnecessary stress. The holidays should be an enjoyable time for you and your family, but no one will have a good time if you’re stressed out.
So, as the holidays quickly approach, consider self-care to keep your stress levels down.
What Is Self-Care?
Self-care refers to things you do for yourself. They’re positive things that help keep your mental health in check.
Self-care is subjective and can vary from person to person. For some, self-care is spending time alone and reading a book. For others, it may be going for a run or trying a new exercise routine.
Remember, it isn’t selfish to prioritize your needs. Around the holidays, you may feel overwhelmed by the chaos of it all. One of the best things you can do for yourself is to allocate time to spend alone.
What Are the Benefits of Self-Care?
Self-care is beneficial for several reasons. First and foremost, it allows you to recharge and prioritize your mental health.
It’s easy to let your mental health slide, especially when you have a lot on your plate. However, if you want to be the best you can be, you must prioritize your mental health.
When you’re always on the go without ever checking in with yourself, you may quickly become burnt out. Worse yet, you may develop more serious mental health issues like depression or anxiety.
By practicing self-care every day or a few times a week, you’re taking proactive steps towards keeping yourself happy and healthy.
Why Is Self-Care Important Around the Holidays?
We commonly associate the holidays with good food, spending time with family, exchanging gifts, and feeling happy. While many of us experience the positive side of the holidays, it’s easy to overlook the negative side.
The holidays can be very stressful for some people, especially if they have large families or host big family events.
Money is tight for many people around the holidays, making it stressful to shop for gifts. Stress can pile up quickly around the holidays and suddenly, the happiest time of the year becomes the most stressful one.
Because the holidays can quickly become stressful for some people, self-care is more important than ever around this time. By planning ahead, you can better prepare for any stressors you expect.
When it is a little closer to the holidays, you can go in with a comprehensive plan for dealing with your stress. When you feel overwhelmed or anxious, you can take some time for yourself to unwind.
Again, taking time for yourself is not selfish. In fact, it’s one of the best things you can do for everyone in your family. By taking some alone time, you can come back feeling refreshed and recharged.
The holidays are a time to spend time with family and feel grateful. You don’t want to spend this special time feeling anxious, irritated, or stressed.
To avoid these negative feelings, consider practicing self-care this holiday season. If holiday stress gets to be too much, consider seeking out a therapist to help guide you through the chaos.
Before you know it, another holiday season will have passed. Don’t spend it feeling stressed or upset; add self-care to your routine this year to have the happiest holiday season possible!
The holidays are a time of giving and serving others, being joyful, and celebrating. Practicing self-care will help you be more present during the holidays and to give of yourself more fully and freely. If you think of self-care as being like putting deposits into your bank account you will be better equipped to deal with the inevitable stress of the holidays, be more likely to avoid burnout, and most importantly be more present to truly experience joy and peace.
Work with a Counselor in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Online in Arizona
Our team of caring therapists understand that the decision to start therapy can be challenging. This is why we are happy to offer a complimentary 20-minute phone consultation. Our locations for counseling are located throughout the valley with counseling centers located in Phoenix, Anthem, Scottsdale and online anywhere in Arizona. You can start your therapy journey with Crossroads Counseling by following these simple steps:
- Contact Crossroads Counseling for a complimentary 20-minute phone consult
- Meet with a caring therapist
- Start the healing process
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