8 Ways to Prioritize Your Self-Compassion During The Holidays
The holidays can sometimes do one of two things: they can bring out the best in people, or they can bring out the worst. There are a lot of emotions that come up during the holidays. Sometimes they’re fuelled by excitement and love, but other times they can be filled with stress and anxiety. And depending on the year that you’ve had or the circumstances that have been presented during the chaos of the holidays, your own opinion can change by the day.
Also read: 5 Tips for Keeping Your Holiday-Season Stress Free
Regardless of where you’re at this year, one of the most important things we can do is exercise a little extra self-compassion during the holidays. The reality is that we are all doing the best we can, and our best is enough, no matter how many gifts are under the tree, what food is on your table, or who you’re visiting with. This means there’s absolutely no reason why you should ever shame or guilt yourself for what your best is. Your best will change year after year, so just focus on the present, because that is the real gift.
Also read: 10 Reasons Why It’s Important to Not Compare Yourself to Others
I know this can sometimes be easier said than done, so allow me to share with you 10 practical ways to prioritize your self-compassion this holiday season.
8 Ways to Prioritize Your Self-Compassion During The Holidays
1. Journal your thoughts
Our thoughts can be tricky - they may appear one way on the surface, but often times the real reason behind them is buried somewhere in our subconsciousness. In fact, it wasn’t until fairly recently that it became widely accepted for parents to nurture their children’s emotional intelligence. This means many adults never learned how to navigate and process their own emotions, and try to push them down and ignore them.
I want to encourage you to investigate your thoughts this holiday season. Write them down on a piece of paper, you never know what you could discover about yourself.
2. Move your body
Before we get into this, I want to make something clear: the holidays are meant to be enjoyed, which includes delicious treats and cozy times with the people you love. By no means does this mean you need to have an intense gym schedule. However, with that said, maintaining some light exercise and movement can be very beneficial for our self-compassion during the hecticness of the holidays. For me, this looks like some yoga, pilates, or walks with my neighbour, however, for you it could look like something completely different. Do what works for you, and make sure it’s something you enjoy.
3. Call a friend
There is something so lovely about having a friend to talk to when life feels busy and hectic - someone you can laugh with and cry with while comforting one another. If you have a friend that you trust and care about, I’d recommend making time to call them.
4. Focus on self-care
Self-care, at its core, quite literally, is about caring for yourself. It’s going to look different from person to person, and from season of life to season of life. Focus on self-care activities that are beneficial for you now. This could look like anything from a candle-lit bubble bath to avoiding the shops and doing your holiday shopping online. Focus on what you need, and honour your own care.
5. Rest
No matter how busy the season gets with holiday parties and shopping, remember to make time to rest. When we are well-rested, we can think more clearly and approach things more easily. Whether this looks like going to bed a little earlier, or napping on the weekends, make sure you don’t skip out on your rest.
6. Spend time outside
While the weather outside (might be) frightful, going outdoors for even just a few minutes can help to improve our mood and mental clarity. I recognize going outside in the winter may not be the easiest or most accessible thing, but when it’s possible to do so safely, I would recommend bundling up and going for a walk. If it’s not possible, try to open your windows, even if it’s just for a couple of minutes.
7. Be kind to yourself
One of the best things you can do for your self-compassion is to simply be kind to yourself. This means not being hard on yourself if you forgot something, miss something, or get something wrong. This does not mean you’re a bad person, it simply means you’re human and that mistakes happen. Be kind to yourself, forgive yourself, and work on making things right.
8. Be kind to others
Everyone you pass, whether in the stores or on the road, is going through something. It’s important to always be kind, but a little extra kindness during the holidays can go a long way. Be empathetic towards the needs of others, be patient when things take longer, and be understanding if makes happen. Be kind to others, be kind to yourself, and have a very happy holiday season.