As we move into December and the holiday parties begin, many people find themselves feeling stressed out, sad, and unable to find time for mental self-care. Mental self-care is about making time for yourself, time for relaxation, and doing things that reduce your stress.
Enjoying the holiday season and focusing on mental self-care is attainable, you just have to take some steps toward achieving this. Outlined below are the steps that I suggest you take.
PRIORITIES
It is very important to determine what your priorities are during this period. Shopping for gifts, cooking, entertaining, etc. can be overwhelming. Clear priorities are not just a means of task management; they are the guiding principles that shape our daily decisions. By unraveling the power of clear priorities, we embark on a journey of self-awareness. It involves understanding that each item on our list reflects our values, aspirations, and authentic self. Prioritization is not a one-size-fits-all concept; it’s a personalized strategy that aligns with individual goals and values.
HEALTHY BOUNDARIES
Sometimes you just have to say NO to other people. You can not be in two places at once. It’s okay to say no in a nice way and explain that you simply are unavailable or have a prior commitment. The more that you practice this the easier it will be to do so and to not feel GUILTY. This guilt is self-inflicted as we often feel that we have to do everything and help everyone. Sometimes you can offer to assist at another time, later in the year or when you have more availability. It’s okay to put yourself first sometimes.
STRESS REDUCTION
The holiday season is fun, we get to spend time with family & friends. It’s also very stressful for many people. It’s important to do things that help reduce your stress. As a Life Coach I coach my clients on techniques to reduce stress, such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, visualization, and good old exercise.
Meditation allows you to engage in contemplation, slow down your nervous system, and heartbeat. It leaves you with a feeling of calm & relaxation. You don’t need to be an expert to meditate and you can do it anywhere that you want, preferably somewhere quiet. I’ve suggested to clients that they close their office door or sit in their parked car and do five minutes of meditation. A lot of people give up on meditation too soon because they feel that they are unable to quiet their mind. Meditation takes time, it’s like building a muscle, slow progression. You don’t need to be perfect to reap the benefits.
Exercise is another great way to reduce stress. It doesn’t have to be in a gym, you can go for a walk in your neighborhood, ride a bike, do an exercise video in your living room or punch a punching bag. Exercise releases endorphins, which make us feel good, an added bonus. The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes a week of exercise. Don’t like to exercise by yourself? Grab a friend or your spouse and go for a walk after dinner or head to an exercise class.
Deep Breathing involves focusing on your breath by taking deep breaths in, holding it and then releasing the breath. It also helps to calm your nervous system and it’s hard to be stressed when you’re focusing on your breathing.
Visualization is another technique that calms you down and will help to reduce stress. It involves sitting quietly and visualizing a place that you enjoy, which brings you calm and happiness. For me, my happy place is to visualize being at the beach. As I visualize, I can hear the sounds of the waves, children playing and feel the warmth of the sun on my skin. For others it might be hiking in the mountains, being on vacation, or time spent with kids.
TIME FOR RELAXATION
How many people actually make time to just relax and do nothing? Very few, as we live in a go, go society. Take five to ten minutes daily and just sit quietly, let your thoughts clear and unwind. I strongly suggest that you turn your cell phone off and any other distractions so that you can truly enjoy the silence.
Enjoy, Celebrate, and Focus on Mental Self-Care
I hope that everyone has a holiday season filled with love, joy,peace and lots of Mental Self-Care. Try at least one of the techniques that I suggested and let me know how it worked for you.
If you’d like to learn more about Mental Self-Care, click here for a free resource: The Mental Aspects of Work/Life Balance and Self-Care
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