The holiday season can be filled with joy and cheer, but sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming. Finding time for yourself amidst the chaos of family gatherings and parties can keep your holiday season bright. Outlined below are some tips to help you get through the season, even if you’re not feeling so wonderful during the most wonderful time of the year.
Walk, Hike, or Bike
When the world starts to go dark early, it becomes even more important to spend time with nature. Those with seasonal affective disorder, and even those without, find that their lack of energy, lethargy, and social fatigue become even more exacerbated around the holidays. However, medical professionals recommend getting up early in the morning to spend some time outside, which can relieve these symptoms. If you’re an early riser, take a walk with your morning coffee to jumpstart your day. Even just 30 minutes outside can change your mood. Not a morning person? Try for a bike ride around your neighborhood or a sunset hike with family or friends.
Essential Oil Boost
Winter is filled with scents of pine, cinnamon, and fresh-baked cookies. But bring some sunshine into the season with citrus essential oils. Rub it on your temples or behind your ears if you want to apply it topically. You can also drop some in your diffuser in the morning when you wake up or in a warm bath before you go to bed. Citrus is known to lift stress and act as a mood booster. It slows your heart rate and reduces anxiety-inducing hormones. Even better, it can relieve an upset stomach and help you digest that yummy holiday meal.
Miracle Morning Routine
It’s easy to get caught up in the thrill of the holidays, neglect self-care and put off some work you could do until the new year. Try and stay on top of your to-do list as much as possible by waking up earlier and taking 30 minutes to yourself each day. Hal Elrod, the author of The Miracle Morning, outlines seven steps to aid your productivity and cultivate peace within yourself during this time: silence, affirmations, visualization, exercise, reading, and scribing. Wake up before the rest of your house, so you can have this alone time to regenerate before taking on another day. If you don’t have time to do all of this, try to meditate for five to ten minutes in quiet to reduce stress, improve focus, and increase happiness.
Get Creative
Immerse yourself in something that requires attention. Running, cooking, baking, knitting, or even gift-wrapping can help you concentrate and focus on something besides your worries. If you’re feeling crafty, decorate your space beyond tinsels and ornaments. One easy, inexpensive, yet thoughtful decor is to press flowers from your neighborhood and frame them in front of a newspaper. It requires little technical skill and turns out uniquely beautiful every time! Check out these affordable frames to get you started.
Sleep!
We always need enough sleep, but extra sleep when you’re stressed is key to improving your mood. It’s easy to use the time before bed to think about the day’s events, but do your best to hit the pillow as soon as you lay in bed for the night. If you’re having trouble, try some melatonin gummies, nighttime CBD lotions, or a sleep-inspired podcast. These will help you get restful sleep, so you’re energized when you wake up in the morning.