As I write this, the holiday season is here, and the new year is only a few weeks away… how are we doing, ladies? It’s hard to think of how to destress when you’re in the thick of it all. Keeping up with end-of-year obligations with our kids’ schools, extended family, jobs, and household duties is a LOT, and it can feel really overwhelming during times like these. And that’s not even mentioning actually celebrating the holiday itself, with shopping, gift-giving, decorating, and Secret Santa ventures. It’s enough to give anyone a panic attack, especially if you’re trying to parent effectively through it all with a smile.
So, what are some of your favorite ways to destress and practice self-care? There are many to choose from, provided you give yourself the time and grace to participate in them. This is essential during these seasons; we don’t want the holidays to feel burdensome. The last thing our families and children need is a resentful mom! In the spirit of new ideas to unwind, here’s a list of some of my favorite down-time activities.
READ: How to Stay Healthy During the Holiday Season
- Read a good book… alone. Nothing like taking some “me” time away from your kids (especially if you have young ones) to hear yourself think, and either learn something new or get lost in an engrossing story.
- Exercise or do yoga. No, really. I find even when exhausted, I always feel better once I start to exercise. It doesn’t have to be intense exercise; often I just start slowly and once my adrenaline kicks in, I start to pedal faster and lift heavier.
- Attend a religious service or church event if you’re a churchgoer. The socialization will do you good, and you’ll reinforce your faith in a constructive way. There’s nothing like being around like-minded people to enhance your self-esteem, and remind you that you’re more than “just” a mom.
- Volunteer for your favorite cause or charity. Teach ESL, work with kids to help them learn to read, volunteer at an animal shelter. Any of these types of activities will make you feel good about yourself, and remind you how awesome your life really is, chaos and all.
- Organize a lunch or holiday party for the teachers at your children’s school(s). Don’t forget to reward the teachers for all the hard work they put in. The past few years have been hard on all of us, but particularly brutal for educators.
Give yourself the time this during the next few weeks of 2022 to destress and take care of yourself. We deserve it after the year we’ve put in!
What are your favorite ways to destress and wind down?
