Self-Care for Moms During the Holidays
6 SIMPLE TIPS TO HELP GET YOU THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS
WHY SELF CARE DURING THE HOLIDAYS IS IMPORTANT FOR MOMS
We all know that as a mom, we put everyone else’s needs in front of our own. The holiday season is no exception to that and is actually one of the more stressful times of the year for us. Self-care for moms during the holidays becomes crucial to get through this busy season with our sanity and health intact. Making self-care a priority as a mom will allow you to be more present and grounded around your family. I’ve got 6 ideas to help you get through the holidays with my easy to do self-care tips for moms.
1. CREATE TIME FOR SELF-CARE AS A BUSY MOM
This is a no-brainer but self-care starts with making the time to actually care for yourself. As a busy mom, this can be the last thing that gets done among the other competing priorities. But, it’s important to set aside some time every day and make yourself a priority too. Start small, even if it’s just 10 minutes to sit down and read a chapter of the book you started, or to listen to music, or just do nothing. Make a commitment to yourself every day and your body and mind will thank you.
When I started making self-care a priority, I began with just 5 minutes right before getting dinner ready. I set the timer and sometimes I just sat there. You can do what you want because this is your time. Now, I will say that this was a bit more difficult to achieve when my kids were younger but as they got older, I was able to give myself more time before dinner prep to take time for me. You can start small and add more time as life allows.
2. SAY NO MORE OFTEN THAN YOU SAY YES
Do you feel overwhelmed just looking at your to-do list and your schedule for the week? I hear ya! As a mom, not only are we trying to manage our household and our kids’ schedules, but we are pretty much doing it all. This is why saying no becomes important for your sanity and self-care.
If you have a hard time saying no, think of it this way. Every time we say yes to something, we are essentially saying no to something else. We are sacrificing our own needs for that of others. And yes, that’s what we do as moms but this is the time to be more intentional about what we are saying yes to. For example, if you say Yes to going to another holiday gathering, then you might be saying no to staying in and spending quality time with your family, or finding the time to read that book that’s been on your nightstand for the last year. Aim to say no more often, especially during this season when we are all overwhelmed and over-scheduled and be more intentional with your ‘Yeses’.
3. GET OUTSIDE
During the busy holiday season, you spend a lot of time indoors - at a family member’s house, a dinner party, holiday shopping, etc. Not only does spending more time indoors means being more susceptible to germs, but it also doesn’t have a positive impact on our mental health. Getting outside for even just 15 minutes every day has been proven to reduce anxiety and stress and improve overall mental health. Take 15 minutes each day to go on a brisk walk around your neighborhood and get some fresh air. You’ll come back feeling refreshed and ready to deal with the busyness of the holidays!
4. DO SOMETHING THAT BRINGS YOU JOY!
Finding things that bring joy in your life is huge for self-care. As moms, we are always trying to make others happy, but we deserve to be happy too. This is honestly one of the easiest things to implement once we actually do it. Think about the things you used to do before you became a mom and how it made you feel. What were those things? Was it gardening? Running? Creating things?
For me, I’ve always loved to make things with my hands. I had stopped doing that when I had my first child and it had been many years since I created things. Slowly, I started working on some projects - painting on canvas, weaving, sculpting with ceramics. Now, I make it a monthly ritual to set a few hours every month to work on a project that brings me joy and it has been a game-changer. I am definitely a happier person when I have time to create!
Is there anything that you would like to pick up? Or maybe it’s something that you’ve never done before but have always wanted to try. Now is the time to do that. You deserve to do something for yourself!
5. CREATE A DAY OF REST
In our home, Sundays are a day of rest for me. That means, no grocery shopping, minimal cleaning, no cooking. I’ve delegated Sunday dinners to my husband and he’s already in charge of breakfast for the weekend. Now, I understand that this may not be possible for your family. But even if you can get in an hour or two of ME time, this will help you get through the rest of the week! Maybe it’s the day you sneak in to go to a yoga class in the morning, or an hour to go to Starbucks and actually drink your coffee before it gets cold while reading your favorite book.
6. DELEGATE
Now, this may not seem like self-care per se, but it is! When you’re doing all the things during the holidays, it can be overwhelming and stressful! But here’s the thing, mama, you don’t have to do it all by yourself. Delegation is powerful and essential for self-care! Go through your list of things that need to be done for the week. Are there things that can be done by others? Could your partner pick up the turkey and go grocery shopping? Maybe your older kids could be in charge of baking cookies? Why not ask your younger kids to help with stuffing holiday cards into envelopes and putting stamps on them?
Once you sit and think about it, there are a lot of things that you can delegate! Create a list for each family member, relative or friend with the things that need to get done each week. Doing this will allow you more time and energy to focus on the things that you alone can do.
The holidays are a busy time for moms so it’s especially important to practice self-care. Use any of the suggestions above to begin creating more time for self-care and see how it impacts your stress level and mental and emotional health. It’s okay to take time for yourself because you deserve it, mama. When your cup is empty, you won’t be able to fill anyone else’s cup. Make yourself a priority every day and you’ll notice how that will impact your family on a positive note.
Tell me, how will you practice self-care as a busy mom over the holidays? I’d love to hear in the comments below!
Much love to you during this holiday season,
xo