This is the time of year when most of us are running around getting ready for the holiday season. We are thinking of everyone else, looking for the perfect gifts, baking the best cookies, attending parties, throwing parties and affected by the time of year, whether or not we celebrate. Some of us literally run ourselves ragged doing for others. Shoppers aren’t always at their best, and traffic patterns change.
What are you doing for yourself? What gifts are you giving yourself?
This is the time of year when doctor and therapy appointments get rescheduled until after New Year’s; when we skip the massage and yoga and other relaxing activities. Yet it really is just the time of year when we need these the most, to balance out the stress, running and anxiety of getting ready for the holidays.
On airplanes, we are told to put our own oxygen masks on first so that we CAN help others. What is you oxygen mask this time of year? What gift will you give yourself so that you can really enjoy the holidays, not just check off the list of what you give and do for others? What will do for yourself so that you Thrive during the holidays, not just Survive them?
Here are some ideas:
- Make and get to your therapy appointment. Talk about what is stressing you out, and make a plan to deal with the stressors.
- Take a yoga or meditation class
- Get a foot massage
- Sleep late one day
- Avoid or minimize alcohol consumption at parties
- Learn a quick relaxation exercise such as TAT (Tapas AcupressureTechnique) or EFT
(Emotional Freedom Technique) - Read a few chapters of a novel with a mug of hot chocolate
My secret treat? A green smoothie.
Celebrate you, your friends, your family!
I wish you a happy, stress-free, joyous holiday season.
