Be Good To Yourself

I did something the other day to be good to myself and it just replenished my give tank. I have been running extra miles as I am sure most of you are also with the holiday season upon us. Now that I am a tad bit older than I would like to admit, my energy levels were depleted. Taking time to refuel is a must, and to be honest, I was feeling it. Despite going to bed early with the hopes of squaring up my sleep deficit, my thoughts and concerns crowded out my slumber. My body needed extra TLC and I knew it. Here are a few things that worked for me. I highly recommend them to everyone getting ready to host holiday parties and gatherings with energy waning and time slipping away. No pressure there I am sure~ so take a minute to be good to yourself.

Make Time For Yourself Somewhere Somehow

I had a long list of things that needed to be done. It seemed counterproductive to stop and take a break or rest. WRONG! That is the most important time to MAKE TIME somewhere, somehow, to be good to yourelf. For me, I MADE time for a very long shower. I gave special attention to my cracked heels, unshaven legs, and dry hair. It took a precious extra fifteen minutes to moisturize my hair, skin, and feet. I took time to apply face serums and put on soft comfy clothes. It wasn’t a huge block of time. I used items that I had on hand so there wasn’t an expense to consider. But, my whole body let out a thankful sigh as I turned into bed early for the night, relaxed enough to sleep well. Somehow, making time to be good to myself somewhere wasn’t all that complicated or expensive.

Fuel Your Body Well

Race car drivers know the value of good fuel to win. I guarantee you it is not the lowest octane fuel out there that wins the race! We can be good to ourselves by nutritiously fueling our bodies for the holiday rush. Are you fueling your body on Christmas cookies, holiday candy, soda pop, and fast food for the holiday race? Who can resist all the seasonal specials at the coffee shops? Overindulging catches up with you and stretchy pants can only do so much holiday magic. Be brutally selective and fuel your body well to have the energy to finish the holiday race feeling strong. Choose savory over sweet, veggies over starches, decrease or omit sugary drinks, and increase water intake. Fueling your body well is the starting point for self-care and it doesn’t require extra time, just the decision to begin making better food and drink choices.

Manage Your Time

Planners are a great way to manage your time. With the busyness of the holiday season, I have found that if you do not manage your time, your stress will mismanage you and time can be wasted. Writing tasks down on lists helps me to focus on what needs to be done for the day making progress accomplishable. I can prioritize, organize properly sized task chunks, and delegate to help everything get done. Checking accomplished tasks off my list feels so good! Managing my time keeps my thoughts organized and tasks moving forward. That is a huge de-stressor for me. A planner may well be worth the investment but a pen and piece of paper work just as well. Don’t forget any planning app features that your phone may have right at your fingertips to assist you in managing your time. You can thank me later!

Just Be Good To Yourself

When traveling by air, instructions are always given to parents and caregivers to put their oxygen masks on first before assisting another. Apply this to the holidays and take time to be good to yourself! With your tank filled, you can accomplish all the “extras” needed to make the season bright. Take time to pray, read the Bible, and meditate on God’s Word. Make time allowances for self-care to moisturize all the winter dryness your body is dealing with so you can relax and sleep well. Wear those comfy pajamas. Eat nutrient-rich foods to fuel your body well. Organize your thoughts and make lists to manage your time efficiently. Reducing stress feels great and everyone can appreciate that, especially those around you. Your holidays will be much merrier when you take a few moments just to be good to yourself sister. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

PS: Here are a few past blog posts for self-care ideas! Check them out!