7 Self Care Tips for the Holidays

From buying gifts, writing holiday cards, to decorating your home, holidays bring their own special set of responsibilities. Your holiday “to-do” list can pile up on top of your already busy schedule and you’re left with too much to do, and not enough energy to do it all. It can be challenging to truly be the best version of yourself with these additional responsibilities and hopes of personally enjoying the season.

A few ideas to start off this holiday season:

• Let go of any internal pressure to put on a bigger and better Hanukkah or Christmas than last year
• Take a few things off of your to-do list by delegating them to someone else. And consider taking some things off your list completely, that includes holiday parties (in-person or via Zoom) and other social gatherings.
• Schedule some much-needed time for self-care. Yes, schedule time in your days to do things for you.
  

While we have some ideas on how to take care of yourself this holiday season, there are infinite possibilities. And this shouldn’t just be during the holidays, include self care into your everyday life to be your best self.

1. Design A Morning Routine

Wellness can begin as soon as you wake up (or maybe even the night before)! When crafting a morning routine that you feel good about, take some time the night before to look over what you are hoping to get done on the next day, and plan accordingly. Whether your routine is 10 minutes or an hour long, check out your schedule before going to bed and set your alarm so that it includes the time it takes for your new morning routine.

Starter ideas for your morning routine:

• Make yourself a cup of coffee or tea
• Meditate or practice yoga for as little as 5-10 minutes
• Do some morning stretches or Sun Salutations to gently wake up
• Write down three goals for the day (personal or work related)
• Listen to a few motivational songs to get you excited for the day
  

Whatever it may be, through practicing these acts of self-love and care in the morning you are setting a positive tone for the rest of your day and even your week. Everyone’s routines may look different, but it's important to remember that it doesn't have to be extravagant, just mindful. Additionally, if you miss a day, that's okay too. Be patient with yourself. Just motivate yourself to try to practice the routine the next morning!  

2. Enjoy Delicious Food

At Thistle, we believe that eating well is an act of self care. Eating nutritious, well-rounded meals leads to increased energy, a sharp mind, balanced hormones, and reduced stress throughout your day - but make sure your food is delicious and full of flavor. Unsure of where to start when creating your own journey with food? We have you covered!

Here are a few great guides (including tasty recipes) on how to eat well throughout your busiest days, even with the holidays:  

• Easy Healthy Lunches: The Work From Home Edition
• Healthy Comfort Foods
• Nutritious Snack Alternatives
• Your Starter Guide To Going Vegan
• What To Eat For Your Workout Meals
  

And remember to treat yourself - food is to be enjoyed. Naiha Falkner, from our culinary development team, shares one of her favorite dessert recipes that she makes for herself as a treat: Peanut Butter Mousse Cup. Get your peanut butter, coconut milk, and whisk ready to enjoy this delicious dessert after a long day!

And if you’re too busy, or don’t want to spend the time making your own food, order meals from us. We’ll do the meal planning, shopping, and cooking. All you have to do is get your delivery and start eating healthy.

3. Take The Time To Read

When you read, you’re really carving out time just for yourself. And reading isn’t something you can do when you’re doing anything else, such as cooking or running errands. Reading gives you the opportunity to discover new ideas and learn, and it can provide an escape so you can truly feel transported to a different time and place. Also, while you’re enjoying that collection of short stories, travel essays, or the latest best-selling novel, there are so many other benefits you get when you read: firing up your imagination, developing empathy, increasing your vocabulary, and thinking more critically. Reading at night also can help you go to sleep easier - though you might want to stay away from reading the news right before bed.

If you’re looking for recommendations, here are some ideas:

• Start with friends and family who know you and the types of books you might enjoy
• Go into your local bookstore, talk with the employees, and they can steer you in the right direction
• Check out Goodreads where you can find curated reviews from other book lovers, and you can even start your own list of book recommendations
  

After you’ve found a good book, the key is to find a spot where you know you won't be disturbed. Let your housemates and family know you’d appreciate the uninterrupted alone time. And whether it’s for 30 minutes, an hour, or even two hours, wrap yourself up in your coziest blanket, open your book, and enjoy.

4. Start a Yoga Practice

If you’ve never practiced yoga, or tried it but couldn’t get into it, hear us out. Just like you would try out different kinds of workout classes to find what feels right for your mind and body, finding the right kind of yoga practice, as well as the right instructor, can take time. Once you find what feels nourishing and grounding for your unique body, you’ll find yourself seeking the practice whenever you need to disconnect from the world and all its chaos. Sure, yoga can be beneficial to increase your muscle strength and flexibility, as well as support heart health, but we think that the self-awareness and overall sense of well-being that a regular yoga practice can help cultivate are what makes yoga unique. As it’s often the case with mindfulness practices, yoga is also regarded as “an effective method of managing and reducing stress, anxiety and depression”.

Our favorite yogi, Angie from Afro Yoga, shared with us a bit about what yoga means to her:

“I rediscovered yoga when I was going through a very deep depression living abroad. After watching the documentary "Awake" about the life of Paramahansa Yogananda, one of the founding Indian sages that brought yoga to the West, I felt ignited to practice. I began to look forward to doing the little bit of yoga that I knew and it helped me to find a piece of joy again. Since then, it's been a saving grace for me in moments when I need to reconnect to myself and disconnect from everything around me. It allows me to become fully present in my body and give myself a mental break. Yoga quite literally, changed my life in so many ways and I am eternally grateful for the practice, on and off the mat.”

If you’d like to start a yoga practice, here are Angie’s tips:

• Learn about different styles of yoga and find one that fits your personality and needs
• Try out different instructors, sometimes the practice feels different when the right person is leading it
• Remember that you don't need to look a certain way or be "flexible" to do yoga — it's for every body and it's all about coming back to yourself

Enjoy Angie's 18-minute gentle meditative yoga session as a wonderful way to relax at any time of day.

5. Set Boundaries For Yourself

As our needs and priorities change year to year, so do the boundaries we must set in place for ourselves. Setting expectations that this holiday season may look different from last year is completely understandable. Although it isn't easy, learning to say ‘no’ during the holidays can help with avoiding burnout. Even if this means not attending every Zoom gathering or opting out of sending holiday cards, designating time to take care of yourself should be at the top of your priorities.

When setting healthy boundaries with yourself and others, tuning into your feelings is a great place to start. For some this may look like taking a walk to check in with yourself, while others may need to sit down with a pen and paper to fully map out their thoughts. Asking yourself questions like, ‘what in your life is causing you stress or creating an emotional burden?’ may feel odd at first but will likely surface where you are needing the most support. After becoming more self-aware, give yourself permission to dive into these emotions and design a plan that puts your well-being first. As it may be new and slightly out of your comfort zone, asking for help or positive affirmations from others may be exactly what you need to relieve some stress. Creating a clear and honest conversation about your boundaries will allow you to do more of what you love and take time for yourself when you need it most. The people around you will likely come from a place of understanding and offer their support more willingly than you may expect. Communicating your needs takes time and practice, so if getting your ideas across is difficult upon your first try, that's okay. Check in and try again!

Some boundaries you may need to put in place this holiday may include:

• Limiting use of social media
• Asking for help with meal prep and cleaning the kitchen (Thistle may come in handy with this!)
• Eliminating certain topics and the time and locations in which they are discussed  
• Delegating tasks such as decorating, grocery shopping, cooking, and gift purchasing to others
• Taking a designated hour lunch break and logging off of work at 5 pm to ensure you have time for yourself

Create boundaries that feel good for you. And feel free to start small!

6. Do Something You Enjoy

In the words of our co-founder, Shiri Avnery, “Sometimes in the drudgery of all that needs to get done between work and home, it’s easy to lose that sense of child-like wonder that makes you feel alive and in awe of the world around you. I try to take time every day to do something that makes me feel awed and inspired — and so very grateful I get to take another breath on this beautiful planet.”

There is a wide range of activities that can fall in this category of inspiring awe, wonder, and enjoyment. Oftentimes, getting outdoors and moving our bodies in some capacity can help rejuvenate how we are feeling both mentally and physically. From a 5-10 minute yoga flow to a 12 mile hike, activating endorphins within your body can help you maintain a positive mindset for the rest of your day. Even just wandering leisurely through your neighborhood with no phone to distract you, and taking in your environment can be rejuvenating. Sometimes, all we need is a breath of fresh air to help reset the never-ending thoughts that race through our heads.

Discovering a new hobby, or re-discovering an old one is a wonderful form of self care: cooking, dancing, playing a musical instrument. Or, create your own home-spa kit for a leisurely bubble bath or skin care routine.

7. Show Kindness

One of the ways to take care of yourself is to show kindness to others. These gestures can be small ones that take just a few minutes, but can mean a lot to someone else.

• If you’re cooking or baking, double the recipe and share it with friends or neighbors
• Take a walk and knock on your neighbor’s door and just ask if there’s anything they need. Maybe an elderly neighbor has a dog who needs an extra walk.
• Cut flowers from your garden and leave them in a vase in front of your house with a sign that says “Enjoy a flower from my yard”
• Give extra tips at your local cafe or restaurant
  

When you show kindness and gratitude to others, it can do wonders for others, and for you, too.

The holidays are filled with activities and some feel more like responsibilities than fun. In order to enjoy this time by yourself or with others, we have to take time to take care of ourselves as well. No matter what this looks like, designing a schedule with designated time for self care will be sure to result in less stress for you, and a more joyous holiday season!