Holidays stress me out. I’m a social introvert, but each Christmas I yearn to invite family and friends over for dinners or parties. I never do, because the idea of preparing my self and my home for those interactions causes me anxiety and stress. I am making it a point this year to offer myself more self care, in hopes that I can relieve enough stress to become the host that I want to be. Even if you don’t have any socialization issues, the holidays can be a demanding time on all of us. Join me in finding time for you, and caring for your mind and body this holiday season.

Musical Therapy

Christmas music may or may not be your thing, but it is totally mine. I love this season for all its festive music and jingling. Pop on a holiday channel on your Home Entertainment System and sing along! Singing releases endorphin (probably… I am sure I read that somewhere), and it just plain makes you feel good. Plus, kids love it when you sing and dance with them! Our Roku player has a YouTube app so I just run that on the TV in the living room and pick my favourite Christmas Music channel. This month, I am trying to do this once a day with the kids.

Clean One Room

It seems like Home Care and not Self Care, but for a domestic failure like me, the finished product of cleaning one room is a mental uplift. Take a moment to clean one space, your bedroom for example, and then enjoy the space! Wash your bedding, dust and vaccum. Put out fresh flowers. Then curl up in your clean bed with your smartphone or a good book.

Read a Book

You saw where I was going with this one! I love to read, but never make time for it anymore. Motherhood always seems to eat up my free time. I’m setting a modest goal of 10 chapters this month. I have been trying to finish book one of Game of Thrones for about 3 years, so that will be my literature of choice.

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Take A Selfie

I hate photographing myself, and I hide from others who try to photograph me! This stems from my self esteem issues of being overweight. I was an actor and model in my younger, thinner days, and loved to put myself out there. Now being a blogger, I force myself into the spotlight sometimes and it actually makes me feel better. I am developing my confidence and comfort with myself. I feel a sense of bravery and pride that I didn’t know still existed. This holiday season I’m vowing to take more selfies and pose for family pictures without shame!

Write a Poem

Writing can be a form of therapy as well, and therapy is self care. Write a poem about whatever is on your mind. Any format is fine, just put pen to paper and see what happens. The beautiful part is, you don’t have to share it with anyone but yourself. There is a sense of freedom in that! I love to write, and forcing myself to make time to write just for me is great self care.

Walk through the Snow

Hold on, I might get a little emotional here with you on this one so bear with me. I can’t walk. My leg has been paralyzed for 13 years and I use a wheelchair. I miss it every single day, but especially when there is sand in the summer or snow in the winter. Believe it or not, you all take walking in the snow for granted. I know you do, because I used to take it for granted too. That “crunch” sound that it makes beneath your feet is just beautiful. Feeling the crisp air on your face and turning around to see your own lonely footprints in a sea of white, untouched snow- it just feels so magical! Get out and walk in the snow for your self care this winter; and do it for me too, please!