If there’s one thing that we can all agree on when it comes to Christmas, it’s a lovely time of year but we can get stressed, overwhelmed or both. It’s not always an easy time of year for many, whether that be grief, anxiety, or loneliness. However, there are a few ways in which to put yourself first. Here are 10 ways to take care of yourself at Christmas.
Stick to your routines as best you can
Of course, it can be hard if you have children or if you have family staying over. When it comes to your routines, especially your morning and evening routines, it’s best to stick with them as much as you can. With your morning routine, making sure that you get up, get ready and get set for the day can ease a lot of stress. Similarly, although you’ll probably go to bed a little later, winding down before bed will help you to sleep much better,
Carve out some solo time every day
This applies especially if you have a big family or a noisy household for the festivities. Make sure you’re making time for yourself. It could be shutting yourself in the kitchen to bake something or have a glass of wine. Perhaps you fancy a daytime nap or reading in bed for an hour or so? Whatever you think will fill your cup and help lower your stress levels, give yourself that time, whether it’s five minutes or an hour.
Go for a walk at least once
Over Christmas, we basically turn into slobs if we’re not going out to work. While I 100% endorse this after years of working in retail and finally getting to enjoy Christmas, it’s not the healthiest! At least try to leave the house on one day of the Christmas/New Year week. Get some fresh air and walk around your neighbourhood, take a trip to the countryside or run some post-Christmas errands (such as returns). As long as you’re getting some fresh air in your lungs, it’s entirely up to you.
Stay hydrated
One thing that many of us lack over Christmas is hydration. We’re snacking constantly, having larger-than-usual meals and drinking lots of beverages we might not normally. That often means that we’re not getting enough water. Try drinking even just a small glass in between your other drinks (whether they’re alcoholic or not). Your body and organs will thank you for it down the line. You might not reach your usual two to three litres a day but a few glasses is better than nothing!
Make time for your healthy habits
Another thing that falls by the wayside over Christmas is our healthy habits. Of course, you should never restrict your diet or anything at any time of the year, let alone at Christmas, but try to stick to some non-negotiables. Make sure you get enough sleep, keep up with your skincare routine, stretch out your body and stay hydrated as I said earlier. If you want to keep working out and upping your fruit and veg, go for it too! The idea is to at least do the bare minimum every day.
Minimise your phone usage
Let’s face it, social media over the Christmas period is often a lot quieter. I know many will rely on it to not feel as lonely and I 100% back those people. For the rest of us, reducing our screen time is easy enough. By all means, I’m not saying don’t pick up your phone at all but equally, don’t spend all day on it either. Check in with friends and family both in person and online!
Do minimal housework
The thought of doing housework over Christmas is just yuck. A lot of us do a big pre-Christmas clean and then are more thorough in the new year. Minimal housework is simply tidying up before going to bed, doing the dishes, and giving the kitchen worktops a quick wipe. Waking up to a messy and dirty house is rubbish so just give yourself half an hour at the end of the day to ‘close’ the house.
Enjoy your hobbies
If you have time off work, now is a great time to give your hobbies a bit more attention. You might want to pick up something new, especially if you got a gift relating to it for Christmas, or you might want to have a go at something you previously loved. One thing I make lots of time for over Christmas is reading. I try to limit my screen time by reading at various points of the day, rather than just before bed.
Be present
Christmas is a special time of year for lots of us and it’s a great time for reflection and looking forward. However, it’s also important for us to just be in the now and take in where we are. I always think about what I’m grateful for and how lucky I am to love this time of year. As you get older, Christmas time definitely changes, whether it’s your location, who you spend it with, or the gifts you receive. However, we should be content and appreciative.
Go with the flow
Sometimes, you can spend months (and a lot of money) planning your Christmas time and it rarely goes exactly as you want it to. There will always be one item on the buffet that you forget to buy or one person you forget to get a gift for (oops) but that’s life! All that planning does pay off but do try to go with the flow if things go awry. It’s the time of year when you should be enjoying yourself so accept it and move on.
Those are just 10 ways to take care of yourself at Christmas. I love this time of year because it’s so nostalgic but I also love it as an adult. Baking a new sweet treat for dessert, seeing the looks on your loved ones’ faces when you get them a thoughtful gift, and getting to actually relax for a change! It’s all about putting others first but don’t forget to look after yourself too! I’m sure there are more than 10 ways to take care of yourself at Christmas but these are my favourites.
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