Guide for Self Care During the Holidays

Anxiety and the Holidays

For many, the holidays are a never-ending source of anxiety, frustration, and tension. From sitting through family dinners to the endless amount of shopping that needs to be done, there’s always something on your mind. At Miami Hypnosis & Therapy, we want you to put yourself first this holiday season. If you’re trying to find balance between being festive and taking care of your own needs, read our guide for self care during the holidays now.

Stick to Your Routine

It’s easy to tell yourself that you’ll be skipping breakfast or dodging a workout just this once, but soon you’ll notice a spiral that ends with you missing all the important elements of your daily routine. It’s good to make compromises when things need to get done — just make sure you’re prioritizing things correctly and pushing off things that can be done later. Self care during the holidays is critical or you’ll end up drained and exhausted before the New Year.

Get Gift Buying Done Early

One of the ways that you can make sure not to get overwhelmed is to start the gift buying early. Make your list at the beginning of November, or even October, so you have it all organized. Then shop online or pick up a gift or two each time you run weekend errands. Avoid making gift buying the center of your life by adding self care to your to-do list during the holiday season.

Learn to Say No

An important tip for self care during the holidays is saying “no.” You’ll probably get a few invitations to events in addition to your responsibilities to your family. Don’t say yes to every little event! You’ll get worn out very quickly. No matter who is pressuring you to attend their festivities, tell them you need to think about it and choose just a few parties that you want to attend. Letting social pressures force you into things you don’t want to do can compound existing anxiety issues.

Add an Extra Meditation Session

If you’re really struggling with anxiety and the holidays, it’s time to step up your self care practices. You may already have daily or weekly meditation in your routine. Whether you do a full meditation session or just a couple of quick breathing exercises, it’s critical that you take the time to calm yourself every day. At Miami Hypnosis & Therapy, we recommend adding these sessions right before bed so you can get better sleep and avoid exhaustion.

Do Something for Yourself Every Day

As the holiday season gets closer, many people find themselves focusing on helping others. It’s time to shift that focus to yourself and make sure you’re getting the self care you need during the holidays. There are many ways you can treat yourself, but here are a few of our favorites:

• Do an at-home facial
• Buy a fancy coffee
• Light a scented candle
• Make yourself hot chocolate
• Go for a walk with a friend
• Buy a new festive outfit
• Write in a gratitude journal
• Volunteer to take pups for a walk at your local shelter

You can do these daily or weekly, but keep these moments small, so you’re not spending too much time, energy, or money. Treating yourself too often may end up making you feel guilty or stress you out even more.

Self Care with Miami Hypnosis & Therapy

From managing OCD and anxiety to depression and PTSD, we can help anyone overcome stress during the season of giving. If these self care tips during the holidays aren’t enough to keep you from feeling overwhelmed, reach out to our experienced team to schedule a consultation or book an appointment now.