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As we quickly tip into the final month of the season, there are many different holidays on the horizon; planning and scheduling are the only way to fit everything into one month. Between shopping and baking and holiday card making, there isn’t much time to settle down and take a breather. I’m writing today to tell you — you need to schedule time for yourself!
When we let the holidays bulldoze over us for 30+ days, who we are on the other side is never who we want to be. With New Years Resolutions taunting us on the tail end of things, we want to be our best selves to ring in the new. The only way to achieve this is by planning ahead and making time for down time, relaxation, and truly enjoying the days to come.
How to do this is up to you. Whether it be a nightly routine that includes 10 or 15 minutes of you-time, or a weekly outing just to walk through the neighbourhood and enjoy the sights (lights, snow, maybe even some carollers?) Whichever way you slice it, your need for slicing out some self-care time this season is at it’s highest.
What happens if you don’t take the time you need to rest? If you avoid down-time, your body will remember. That’s the thing. When we burn both ends of the candle, we’re burning SOMETHING and what that is is hormones in our brain. Cortisone (the stress hormone) goes up and Oxytocin (the happiness hormone) goes down. What this means is, we’re running on empty — how can you truly enjoy all that this season has to offer if you’ve already burnt up all your happiness hormone before you even got there?
What stops us from setting ourselves up for success is often simply undervaluing what rest can do for us. Rest is essential. The benefits far outweigh the perceived loss in time:
What you really need to do is prioritize yourself. If you can schedule times to eat, and work, (and hopefully play!) then what seems like a gargantuan task is really just something you do all the time — schedule in the important things. Choosing rest as a priority makes every other choice you make just that much easier.
Below is a list of options to help you get started. Self-care will look different for everyone and rest is no different. For some, “down time” looks like exercising and getting your heart rate up and then having a steam bath. For others, it means laying in bed and doing literally nothing for half an hour. Whichever way you need to schedule time for yourself is perfectly okay, so long as you are doing what you need to honour yourself.
If you’d like your own copy of this list graphic, you can find it here.
The above list (and a few more):
Play a game
Draw (you don’t have to be good)
Wrap up in a blanket (or build a blanket fort!)
Exercise
Sing
Call a friend
Drink tea (or your favorite warm drink)
Go swimming
Aromatherapy
Paint your nails (all different colours?!)
Breathe deeply
Create a morning or evening routine
Jump in puddles
Eat a meal you enjoy
Sleep in
Walk on the beach
Plan your daily self-care for the month
Watch a movie (that makes you laugh, or cry!)
Call someone you care about and say “I love you”
Journal
Go for a hike
Bake
Delete items from your to-do list
Do a random act of kindness
Have a picnic
Take a walk
Look at the clouds
Go to bed early
Volunteer
Be alone
Take a shower and enjoy it
Attend a counseling session or support group
Call someone who makes you feel good
Go away for the night
Look at the stars
Read a blog on self-care activities
Try guided imagery (YouTube has great options)
Colour
Go for a drive
Meditate
Girl’s Night Out
Make a doctor’s appointment
Cook a meal
Be kind to someone else
Declutter something
Light a candle (and watch it melt)
Read a magazine
Go out with friends
Smile (and hold it for 30 seconds)
Turn your phone off
Be crafty
Garden
Get some pampering done: a manicure or massage
Create a mission statement
Go to the park
Find an inspiring quote and repeat it daily
Indulge in a treat
Paint (try a painting class, or paint night w/ friends)
Look at old photos
Take a bath
Think positively
Listen to an audio book
Pet an animal
Laugh
Go out on a date
Write a letter (to yourself to read in a year)
Visit a dog park and watch the dogs play
Listen to rain
Start a gratitude journal
Organize your day
Go to the zoo
Sit outside
Snuggle with someone
Listen to music
Stretch
Watch home movies
Take some photos of things that make you smile
Watch TV (and zone out for a while)
Write down your negative thoughts and throw them away or burn them
Sit quietly at home
Watch baby animal videos
Write down 3 things you’re thankful for
Meet a friend for coffee
Watch a show on Netflix
Read a book
Stop what you’re doing and simply breathe
Sit and listen to the sounds of nature
Talk about your feelings with someone who will listen
Plant something
Have dinner with your friends
Stay off of social media for an hour (or longer!)
Visit an animal shelter
Watch the sunset (or sunrise)
Wear something that makes you feel good
Visit the library: check the self-improvement books
