How To Make Space for You This Christmas
It’s the most wonderful time of the year.
It’s the season of catching up with friends, and family, gift swapping, and Mariah Carey singing her heart out while you do the food shopping
People are generally in high spirits because there’s an upbeat energy and it’s an overall joyful time.
But what if this year you made self-care a priority by carving out space for yourself?
Between shopping, decorating, and spending time with loved ones, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The tendency to stuff these last few weeks of the year often leads to neglecting our needs and leaves us wondering why we feel so drained and exhausted just before it’s time to start another one.
With a busy holiday such as Christmas, a little self-care can go a long way. In this article, I’m going to share how you can practice self-care this Christmas inspired by my own holiday ritual and experiences.
Gratitude
There’s probably no better time to be thankful than at the end of the year knowing, at least you survived.
This is of course on top of when we look at the current state of the world, gratitude becomes even more important to exercise.
For me, gratitude during this time of the year encourages me to focus on what I value most.
This is not to say I overlook challenges, but simply take time to ground myself and be thankful for what has been a positive constant throughout the year.
Think about the people who have made a difference in your life this year.
Who has been a shoulder to cry on when you felt like the world was crumbling around you?
Who showed up every time to support your new business idea?
Who gave you an opportunity when you felt you were running out of options?
What creator/influencer/account made this year feel as though there was light at the end of the tunnel?
Sure, Christmas wouldn't be ‘merry’ without the traditional festivities of gifts, food, drink, and themed music. But, let’s not forget it’s usually what we take for granted that matters the most.
Let Go of Comparisons
Between scrolling through social media, asking friends what their Christmas plans are, and the slew of advertisements for ski trips, markets and Winter Wonderland no one could blame you if you felt you felt the pressure to keep up. Comparing our Christmas traditions with others is an easy trap, but it’s also a fast track to feeling less than.
I’ve done Christmas abroad a few times, and as lovely as those times were, for me, nothing beats Christmas at home.
Being around my family, around my own things, near my sofa where I can grab a thick knitted blanket, a rum and coke, and more snacks my stomach can fit watching films the whole way through is a festive bliss.
Your way of celebrating the holidays is unique to you.
It might be taking a trip into the city and seeing the lights, or a visit to the Greenwich skating rink, or going round your grans to cook a bit of dinner and keep her company.
There’s no wrong or right way to celebrate this season, as long as you’re doing something you truly love to do.
Don’t feel Obliged to Overspend
I’m probably revealing my age when I say this but, I remember when the Christmas sales would strictly start on Boxing Day, not a day before. If you wanted that game that was half-price, you would have to wait until the next day and use your Christmas money to get it.
Now, with Black Friday, the holiday sales have started and it feels like we just got back from our summer vacations! Like, girl, give me five minutes to adjust.
We’ve barely kicked our feet through the autumn leaves and you’re forcing great, but excessively discounted products down our throats.
There’s immense pressure in society to buy gifts, host lavish gatherings, and indulge in all the festive trimmings.
I used to feel that spending more meant giving more, but I’ve learned that meaningful gestures carry far more weight than the price tag.
Tip: Set a budget that works for you and stick to it. Gift thoughtfully, not extravagantly.
Spend your Time Intentionally
What if I said you didn’t have to go to your cousin’s annual Christmas party that you’ve felt anxious about all week?
What if you didn’t have to play pretend with the toxic aunt who always asks when you’re going to get married, all the while she has three divorces under her belt.
What if you could be more intentional about how you spend your time this Christmas, doing the things you wanted to do?
Sometimes we feel obligated to attend certain events because we’re told “they’re family” or “it’s tradition, we’ve always done it this way”.
And as much as both reasons are warranted, pushing yourself to do something you really don’t want to do can be stressful and taxing on your energy.
It’s easy to get swept up in holiday busyness, but I’ve found that doing less with intention feels more fulfilling than spreading myself thin.
Ask yourself who and what deserves your time and energy. This intentionality lets you experience Christmas season fully.
Tip: Prioritise events and people that leave you feeling uplifted. Say no to obligations that drain you.
Enjoy your Food and Drink Guilt-Free
So while I’m not going to be the one to encourage you to walk head first in to a food coma. I will be the one to encourage you not to punish yourself if you find yourself there.
It’s Christmas! Who wants to be discerning over the brandy cream! Not me.
We’ve spent the whole year using discernment over what food raises our vibration, and which foods to eat to attain our dream body. Shit, you got through an entire year, if there ever was a time you deserved to indulge, it would be now.
On the other hand, excessive eating can dampen the mood and cause major fatigue which isn’t fun for anyone.
In fact, one year I ate so much food my body started shaking lol!
I can laugh at it now, but at the time it was quite concerning, I felt so unwell and had to sleep it off for two hours before I could re-join the celebrations.
I don’t want this to happen to you!
Enjoy yourself while being mindfully, unlike me, come to the table with a strategy. Food plays a central part during Christmas but if done mindfully, you can enjoy it to the fullest.
Prioritise ‘Me Time’
Last but not least, remember to take some time out for yourself in a way that means something to you.
Due to having time off to celebrate the holidays, it’s easy to fill your open schedule by meeting up with friends and family, which of course is great.
But there are only a few more weeks left in the year and with work commitments, social events and other day to day errands:
How many days out of this year did you really get to yourself?
How much time did you allow yourself to sit in silence and just be, or think about what you really want out of life, or what you’re going to do to get there?
Once January comes around, the rollercoaster starts again and off we go, back into the swing of things.
Whether it’s a long hot soak in the bath, 30 mins of journaling, going for walk, creating your vision board, take advantage of the last few days you have to just be.
Finally…
This Christmas, take the pressure off and let self-care guide your season. When you reflect over gratitude, not comparing, thoughtful spending, enjoying food, and dedicating time to yourself, you can create a holiday that feels liberating.
The best gift you can give yourself this year is your own peace and happiness.
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