Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels

It’s that time of year again! 

The days are shorter and colder. Lights are twinkling from homes and trees. Seasonal drinks call your name at every coffee shop. The holiday season can be the most wonderful or stressful time of year. There are so many beautiful, cozy moments to pull into, along with a lot of pressure to be part of the hustle. 

But here’s the beautiful thing: You get to control your pace. So, if you’re feeling the holiday stress, grab a cup of cocoa, my friend. Take a deep breath and let’s lay out some self-care guidelines for the next while.

Set boundaries. Setting healthy boundaries that fit your lifestyle is a good place to start. It might look like . . .

• saying no to another Christmas party
• setting up a budget to avoid financial stress
• telling family and friends that you don’t want more things

Once your boundaries are in place, you’ll have extra courage when you need it. It’s okay—and healthy—to say “no.” 

Protect your time and do the things that fill you up. You can’t pour from an empty cup and burn-out happens quickly when you have too much going on. Check in with yourself often and make time for doing what you love rather than what you feel obligated to. It’s okay to resist the hustle. Snuggle up. Do some baking. Play games with your people. Watch a holiday favourite. Whatever will bring you a bit of joy and relaxation. The to-do list can wait.

Keep in tune with your body—a little yoga, a good work out, some extra sleep, meditation, a solo dance party, a cinnamon bun—schedule in time to take care of your body. We hold on to the stress we pick up in a day. Giving yourself the time and space to shake that stress off is worth it.

 “. . . Self-care is not an aesthetic. It’s hard work.”

Sometimes all you need is a bath and a glass of wine to lift the stress. Other times, it might not look so Instagram worthy. Like when you have to push yourself out of bed and take a shower, even though the winter-blues are kicking your butt. That is self-care. Paying attention to your emotions is self-care. Seeing a professional to talk about trauma is self-care. Looking in the mirror and not looking for flaws but taking a deep breath is self-care. Self-care can take the shape of what you need it to be. You know yourself best and you are worth it.

We’d love to hear about how you de-stress and relax during the holidays.
May your days be wonderful, intentional, and stress-free.

Written By Jade Paxton for FRANC