Practicing Self-Care During The Holidays

Every year at Christmas, I clear out the house and spend one evening drinking a little too much prosecco, watching a terrible Hallmark-style Christmas movie, and wrapping gifts. It is something I look forward to all season. It is a way for me to get one thing done, while also getting some much-needed alone time. It is one of the most important things I do all season because it allows me to set aside some time for a little self-care during the holidays.

The holidays are run on tinsel and moms. For most of us, who are already doing so much, the holidays are a source of additional responsibilities and stress. And, while there is probably no way around this (at least not in our house), there are a few ways to help ease the feelings of anxiety.

One, is to do less. I talk a little bit about that on a post about how to enjoy the holidays as a minimalist. But, maybe that isn’t your style. Another option is to practice a little extra self-care during the holidays.

Why Self-Care is So Important During the Holidays

We spend most of this time of year going from one event to the next, running one errand after another, and filling our time taking care of others. We often forget to take care of ourselves. During these busy times we are more likely than ever to get burnt out. And this is the worst time of year to for that, when we have even more to do and are expected to be happy doing it.

Which means it is even more important to take care of ourselves.

Prioritizing Our Own Joy

As mothers, it is just as important for us to enjoy this season as it is for our children. We all know that our stress stresses them out. We also know that when we relax and have fun, our children sense it and seem to do the same. It is much easier to enjoy your children’s joy and wonder when you aren’t worrying about the decorations, the shopping, and the menus.

It is challenging to balance any kind of self-care with the care that we take of our loved ones. But, we need to take just as good care of ourselves, especially this time of year.

We need to give ourselves permission to sit. To relax. To spend time alone. Even it if it is at the expense of that one last gift or errand. Find a way to take care of yourself this season. Ask for help. Minimize your obligations.

Even if it means just a few minutes in the car alone before you get out to spend the afternoon Christmas shopping, take them.

It is easy for us to overlook how our own stress is transferred to our kids. But, our stress often leads to impatience, forgetfulness, and distraction. None of this allows us to be in the moment with our kids and enjoy them. All of this sends a message that we aren’t fully present for them.

The whole point of everything we are doing is to give them a wonderful holiday full of memories and love. In order to do this, we need to be present. The best way to do that is to practice a little self-care and let go of the perfectionism and maximalist holidays that many of us are conditioned to want to give.

Our kids aren’t going to remember that we didn’t have enough stocking stuffers or that the decorations were a little light (and a lot late). They aren’t going to remember the holiday parade that you skipped in exchange for a quiet night at home. They aren’t going to remember that you didn’t have the perfect dress for the Santa pictures or a homemade Christmas Eve desert.

They will remember the time you spent putting together a puzzle on the floor. They will remember the hot chocolate and snuggles on the couch. And they will remember your smile. They will remember you being there with them, asking them questions and listening intently while they answer. You will remember their wonder. And this often isn’t possible without a little self-care.

The best gift we can all give our children is our undivided attention and presence. The best way to give this is by taking care of ourselves as much as we do them. So, ask for help, set aside time, and watch that terrible movie, or whatever a dose of self-care means for you. If you need it, here are 21 ways to practice self-care for the WAHM.