12 Days of Self-Care for the Holidays

Let’s face it, the holiday season always delivers a contradictory blend of magic, wonder and overwhelm, and a pair of slipper socks may not take the edge off your laundry list of to-dos.

Finding time to relax and recalibrate before the decorations are packed away may seem impossible, but the better you treat yourself, the more you can inhale happiness and exhale burnout.

We’ve created a list (and checked it twice) of 12 ways to practice self-care during the holiday countdown. From mini indulgences to healing experiences, prioritizing self-care every day, no matter how small, will keep you present and balanced and help you manage festivity overload.

1. Holiday hosting, baking and gifting are times to connect with friends and family and create meaningful memories. But all that doing in such a short period of time can have us running close to E on energy.

A session with a Reiki practitioner or using a sound healing app can help clear emotional blocks, alleviate stress and fill your tank.

International Association of Reiki Professionals, Soaak

2. Some people feel a sense of accomplishment checking off tasks in a planner, but for others it can cause anxiety, especially when your day doesn’t fit into neat little boxes.

Instead, mindfulness and manifesting journals focus on the big picture and are designed to help you reflect on your goals and overall well-being. Light a candle, pick up your favorite pen and set your dreams in motion.

The Growth Guided Journal, The Human Being Journal

3. There’s shopping, and then there’s holiday shopping. If the lines, parking and sheer exhaustion of finding the right gifts is weighing you down, the last thing you want to do is try on clothes in a dressing room.

What would it be like to have a stylist dress you during the holiday season? If this sounds like a dream but out of your price range, we have good news. Online personal styling services like Stitch Fix take the guesswork out of holiday dressing, have no fees and don’t require a subscription.

4. We know that ample, quality sleep is essential for our physical, mental and emotional well-being. Since the holiday season never seems to slow down, making sure you’re sleeping soundly and deeply will help you feel refreshed the next day, no matter how many errands are on your calendar.

Sleeping in total darkness, disconnecting from digital devices and feeling comfortable in bed can help you reach your sleep goals.

Accuratex Cooling Sheets, Blissy Sleep Mask, Reacher Sunrise Alarm Clock

Read: Top 8 Healthy Sleep Habits >>

5. Are your toiletry bags in need of a makeover? If you’re traveling for the holidays, a new, smartly designed cosmetics case will make packing personal care products of all shapes and sizes a cinch.

Staying local? A new makeup bag for trips to the office or the gym feels like a fresh start without the broken zippers and exploded eyeshadow stains.

Lola Makeup Bag, Terra Hanging Toiletry Bag, The Foldie Toiletry Bag

6. Ho, ho, oh! ’Tis the season for giving … yourself some love. Vibrators and other sex toys — solo or with a partner — can be great tools to help you achieve an orgasm, which can lower your heart rate and send a surge of dopamine and serotonin (feel good chemicals) through the body. So, having an orgasm is a pretty powerful stress reliever. If nothing else, do it for science.
   
   
7. If you love fancy coffee, but don’t always have time to grab your favorite hot beverage from your local roasters in the morning, stop in and purchase a few bags of your favorite blend. Most coffee shops that sell beans are happy to grind them for the type of coffee equipment you use.

Latte lover? Grab some holiday creamers or a frother for a barista-worthy coffee you can make on the fly and enjoy anytime. Pair it with a short visual meditation for a fully relaxing coffee break.

Bodum Pour Over Coffee Maker, Instant Pot 4-in-1 Milk Frother, Milk Frothing Thermometer

Read: Hot Stats on Warm Bevvies: Can Hot Beverages Help with Healthy Aging? >>

8. Is the holiday hustle getting really heavy? Try taking a break with a visit to a museum. This calming excursion requires you to silence your cell phone, walk at a snail’s pace and focus your mind on creativity, innovation, history and culture in contrast with the frenetic go-go-go of the holiday season.

Take your time, sketch or write in a notepad, or simply sit for a while and enjoy the view. And, if you want, you can pick up some stocking stuffers at the gift shop, crossing one item off your to-do list.

9. There are few things as satisfying as flinging off your bra at the end of the day and throwing on cozy clothes. But, no matter how comfortable they may be, letting go of clothes with holes and rips is a legitimate act of self-care. Replace them with a spa-worthy robe and other comfy staples for the win.

Kyrgies Wool Slippers, Organic Turkish Waffle Robe, UNIQLO Wide Sweatpants

10. Everyone’s up to their eyeballs in holiday events and planning, but spending time with close friends is an elixir for stress and remembering what the holidays are all about: joy.

Meet up for coffee, hop on a Zoom call with a remote bestie or invite your crew over for a girl’s night in: DoorDash, fuzzy socks and spa masks are mandatory.

11. A recent study revealed that spending time outdoors at night has significant mental health benefits. Bundle up and find a serene, quiet place to be calmed by the infinite beauty of the night sky. If you’re in an urban area, head up to your rooftop with a blanket and pillow and a mini telescope attachment that fits onto your smartphone.

Celestron NexYZ, Monocular Telescope for Smartphone, Night Sky App

12. When you’re done with your Dear Santa letter, pen yourself a love letter. It might sound cheesy, but expressing gratitude for yourself is important. All it takes is a quiet room, a notepad or journal, and a writing utensil to reflect on your own self worth. Remember, the holidays would be nothing if they didn’t have you.