The holidays are supposed to be a time of togetherness and celebration, so why does it always seem to be a busy and stressful season instead?
We feel rushed to prepare for Christmas, and when it’s all over, it seems like we didn’t have any time to pause and reflect on what the holidays are really about. We only remember battling the crowds at the mall, rushing from one holiday party to the next, or making frantic last-minute trips to the grocery store for family dinners. Well, this year, your holiday season doesn’t have to be stressful and rushed. Try incorporating these simple and easy self-care practices into your holiday preparations to help you not only keep stress at bay but also to help you appreciate the wonder and beauty of this Christmas season.
What does taking time for yourself mean?
The answer is to intentionally set aside a portion of your schedule. This time needs to be dedicated just to you and no one else but yourself.
It is not intended to be time spent alone for the purpose of catching up on the responsibilities that are on your to-do list. It is not intended to be quality time spent with your significant other.
When you set aside some time that is genuinely for yourself, you give yourself the opportunity to spend that time alone doing what you want to do, rather than what other people believe you should be doing with your time. Even though it’s a straightforward method of self-care, many people find it challenging to really put it into practice.
People who make time for themselves could find that they have a greater desire to do things as a result. However, with practice, you may develop the habit of actually taking time for yourself and simply letting yourself exist without the pressure of needing to accomplish anything. This takes time, but it is a habit that can be developed. Giving yourself time to do things you enjoy is a productive use of your time.
Carve time for yourself
The first tip on how to keep your inner peace is to spend your time alone. Me-time seems daunting or even boring because sometimes you basically don’t know what to do. Carving time for yourself is a must to keep your inner peace. You don’t have to schedule long hours to spend time for yourself; even a solid hour is enough. You can use this moment to simply find peace in silence, journal your thoughts, or enjoy your cup of coffee.
Activity always seems to ramp up around the holidays. I know that my calendar tends to fill up quickly in November and December, and my to-do list suddenly triples in length. In theory, the things that fill my calendar are good things, but if you don’t take the time to pause and reflect, they become burdens and obligations instead of a fun holiday event to attend.
Taking just 60 minutes in the day to pause can go a long way toward minimizing the amount of stress you are experiencing. Simply sitting quietly without any distractions to reflect on your day and the purpose behind what you are doing that day will leave you refreshed, at peace, and much less stressed. You could even consider using a simple prayer during this time.
Schedule time to take 15 minutes out of your day at a time that works best for you and your schedule, but be sure to make it a priority. Rest is an important part of life, especially during the holidays, so treat times of rest as a must and not a nice-to-have.
Simplify and Slow down
Again, because the holidays are so busy with family gatherings, holiday parties, and christmas preparations, it’s easy to feel rushed and pressed for time. And feeling rushed can activate your body’s stress response. Spending the whole day in a state of stress is not the ideal way to savor the wonder of the festive season.
So instead of trying to cram all of the things into your already-packed schedule, try a different approach. Slow down your day and just do what you absolutely need to. Do you really need to perfectly wrap every single present in your custom wrapping paper? Sure, it would be nice, but it isn’t essential. Instead of spending hours on that, aim for a simpler approach to gift-giving.
Don’t be afraid to turn down an invitation to another holiday party if it’s going to mean overscheduling yourself. Try simplifying your approach to christmas so that you can slow down and really appreciate what the season is offering.
Express your negative emotions in a healthy way
Sometimes an unfortunate series of events will come our way almost inevitably, and it’s okay to feel some negative emotions like frustrations, disappointments, and irritations. There are healthy ways to express these kinds of emotions to help you keep your inner peace.
Accept things as they are
Moving on to our next tip on how to keep your inner peace during the holiday season, practice acceptance.
In every situation we’ll ever encounter, there are always things we can control and things we cannot control.
You can control things like how you treat others, asking for help, and the effort you’ll put in certain situations. On the other hand, what you can’t control are things such as the weather, other people’s thoughts and feelings, and how others respond to you.
To let go of what you cannot control is to accept it and focus on the things you can control. Acceptance doesn’t mean you have to like, choose, or support it. It means allowing and experiencing the moment with less struggle. It might not be easy, but it will help you avoid internal suffering.
Practice gratitude
Being thankful isn’t just for Thanksgiving. In fact, practicing gratitude has been shown to increase a person’s sense of overall well-being. Other benefits include feeling less lonely and isolated, feeling more optimistic and joyful, having stronger immune systems, sleeping better, and lowering blood pressure. This makes practicing gratitude an important part of self-care not only during the christmas season but also all year-round.
Simply identifying three to five things you are grateful for each day can help remind you that, despite the busyness of the holiday season, there are positive and wonderful things happening in your life. Keep a notebook by your bedside and jot down the items for your gratitude list, either when you wake up in the morning or at the end of your day. I like writing them down at the end of my day because it helps me reflect on the good things that happened that day.
Making this a daily habit during the Christmas season will train your brain to focus on the positive aspects of your life rather than letting the stress and busyness of the season overshadow them.
The christmas season doesn’t have to go by in a blur, leaving you exhausted and wondering where the time went in January. Using these simple self-care practices of making time to rest, simplifying your calendar and slowing things down, and practicing gratitude can help you focus on the things that christmas is really about (and not make christmas seem like just another busy season to get through). Try these and watch your appreciation and enjoyment of the christmas season grow!
You can practice gratitude by keeping a gratitude journal, volunteering, or doing small and random acts of kindness to others, like helping someone put groceries in their car or leaving some nice comments on social media.
Conclusion
Inner peace is a Christmas gift to oneself. Be realistic, respectfully reject, and prioritize self-care. Holidays are about family, not perfection. To alleviate stress, plan ahead and be spontaneous. Enjoy it now. Thank you for brightening your benefits and providing delight. Truly meaningful connections come from accepting faults. Support and have fun with family. Limit technology and enjoy face-to-face talks to avoid misunderstandings. Revitalize after Christmas. The holidays and your growth, love, and tenacity are appreciated. Christmas should be quiet and happy because of your inner serenity. To conclude, holidays may be stressful; therefore, keeping your emotional peace is crucial. Time for yourself, slowing down, expressing unpleasant emotions in a healthy way, accepting things as they are, and practicing appreciation can help you maintain inner peace.