The holidays often present us with unique challenges, or amplify things that we struggle with throughout the year. There’s more events, you might see family members, there are concerns around budgets and gifting — the list is endless. That’s why holiday self care ideas should be at the top of our list of priorities, even if it doesn’t feel like it.
This year, I want you to feel like the holidays are a time for joy, relaxation, or whatever you want them to be. I want you to feel free from obligations and situations that don’t bring you happiness. To help make that happen, I’ve brought together my best holiday self care ideas and tips.
32 holiday self care ideas to make things better this holiday season
Whether you’re big on celebrating the holidays or just want this time of year to feel relaxing and calm, these holiday self care ideas can be a big help. Use this list of holiday self care ideas to help you manage a difficult time, create joy in the holidays, and create the kind of experience you want to have — not what others want for you.
1. Reflect on what you love about the holidays
Even in the most challenging times, many of us can find something we enjoy or don’t dislike about the moment — including the holidays. Reflect on previous years, and what you see in the media, and think about what sparks joy in you. Maybe you love walking around looking at the festive lights, or you enjoy the seasonal food. Get an idea for what you do and don’t enjoy about the holidays, so you can create moments that bring you happiness.
2. Plan early and be prepared
The holiday season can feel busy, rushed, and overwhelming. While we can’t avoid it completely, planning early and having a to-do list can help us to anticipate challenges and take steps to make things easier. Think about what you want to do over the holidays, and make plans with loved ones and friends early. Consider things you want to buy like food or gifts, how you’ll travel to visit people, what you want to wear, and anything you need to get ready for hosting or attending holiday celebrations.
3. Create a holiday budget
It’s an expensive time of year, and often we can overspend without even realizing it. Set a holiday budget so you have a good idea of what you have available, so that you can be more mindful when you’re shopping for gifts and essentials. If you can, create some wiggle room in your budget for unexpected items. If you want to get prepared for next year, try a holiday savings challenge so you can put aside a little money every month.
4. Know your limits
Everyone has a limit. For you, attending too many festive parties might push you past it. For someone else, even one holiday celebration might be too much. Understand how you feel about the holidays and know what you’re comfortable with, so you know not to push yourself too far.
5. Set boundaries and honor them
This can be a tough time of year if you struggle with boundaries or have toxic family members. There are lots of different people’s needs and expectations to manage, and it can be really hard if people don’t respect your needs and wishes. Figure out what your healthy boundaries are, and try to stick to them this year. It isn’t always easy, but approach it with this goal and stay strong.
6. Be realistic about your expectations
Things often go wrong over the holidays, so it helps not to have unrealistic expectations. Someone might turn up late, you might burn the dinner, or a special gift might not arrive on time. Issues can crop up with family members and friends too, like someone not respecting your boundaries or making a hurtful comment. Think positively, but be mindful that not everything will go to plan and adjust your expectations accordingly.
7. Try to avoid triggers
It’s not always possible, but if you know certain things about the holidays trigger you then look for ways to avoid them if you can. Whether it’s bright flashing lights, seeing a family member, or a specific event or activity, see if you can remove this from your holiday schedule.
8. Create or adapt your routines
Routines can be a great way of helping you stay on track with your healthy habits. If you don’t already have a self care routine (like a morning routine or evening routine), now could be a good time to start one. If you have a routine already, make a few changes to it so it feels more festive, more relaxing, slower, or more enjoyable for this time of busyness.
9. Talk to someone
At this time of the year it’s common for our worries and holiday blues to surface. There’s a lot going on, and sometimes the holiday stress becomes too much. Find someone that you can talk to about how you feel and the challenges you’re facing, so that you have a comforting shoulder to lean on. This might be a friend, a therapist, or a supportive online community. Check in on your loved ones too, in case they need someone to talk to.
10. Say no
Don’t feel like you have to go to every holiday party or take part in every holiday craft or trend that’s going around. You don’t. Feel free to say no — in fact, challenge yourself to do it. With a clearer schedule filled with only the things you want to do (and the things you can’t avoid), the holidays are a lot easier to manage.
11. Slow down and breathe
The holidays can get super busy. People are everywhere, there are long lines at the store, and there are advertisements everywhere. Take a moment to slow down, take some deep breaths, and enjoy being in the moment. You don’t have to take part in everything festive to have a good holiday season — sometimes it’s okay to miss out. This holiday self care idea is a great reminder of that.
12. Spend time outside
It might be cold outside (depending on where you are) but even getting out for a few moments can help you feel so much better. I love stepping out into that cold, crisp winter air — but can only manage a few minutes! Spend your time outside walking, listening to birdsong, people-watching, posing for photos, or anything else that makes you feel good.
13. Focus on moments that bring you joy
It’s not always the most wonderful time of the year, but there are often moments that can bring us joy. Focus on these and add as many of them to your holiday calendar as possible. Watch holiday movies, go holiday shopping with a friend, and order your favorite seasonal hot drink. Wrap presents by the fire, listen to holiday songs, and go on a walk to see the lights. Whatever makes you happy, do it!
14. Decorate for the season
A lot of the typical holiday self care ideas focus on avoiding challenges or clearing your schedule — and that’s because they work well for lots of us. That doesn’t mean you have to forget about decorating, though. If you’re excited to welcome in the season with some fresh decor, then go for it! It’s all about embracing what you love and creating a holiday season that works for you.
15. Write your thoughts down
There can be a lot of emotions and thoughts flying around at this time of year. Take a moment to write them all down to free up space in your head and help you address them in a positive way. Write in your journal, in a notes app, or in a letter to yourself — whichever works best for you. Add anything practical to a to-do list to tackle another day.
16. Practice positive self talk
The holidays can bring a lot of pressure, which can affect our self esteem, self confidence, and self worth. If this is something you struggle with, try building some positive affirmations into your schedule. This is a form of self care that you can try even if you only have a few minutes spare, and can help you refocus on the positives. Take a look at my list of 100 things to love about yourself as a starting point.
17. Create new traditions
The holidays are often filled with traditions, but usually they’re someone else’s — something you’ve seen on TV, or a family tradition passed down through the generations. Now’s a great time to consider starting your own. Whether you swap a traditional festive feast for pizza in your pajamas, or introduce a new gift-giving tradition, there’s always a fun way to make your mark on the holidays.
18. Try meditation
Meditation can be a helpful way to take a break, feel calmer, and give yourself time and space away from the busyness of the holidays. Spend time with your mind and try one of these meditation for beginners exercises.
19. Schedule quiet time
With so much noise and hustle and bustle, the holidays can get loud and overwhelming very quickly. Even if you love family gatherings, it’s nice to have some time out to yourself. Make sure you schedule time to be alone over the holidays, so you can enjoy spending time by yourself and taking care of your own needs.
20. Eat and drink things you love
Diet culture is unfortunately always present, even more so over the holidays. Say “no thank you!” to this and make sure you enjoy foods and drinks that you love — especially those special editions that are only around for a few weeks or months.
21. Stay hydrated
While you’re enjoying all the best food out there, be sure to make sure you stay hydrated too. Research suggests you should drink between 10 and 15 cups of water per day, but it’s okay if you’re still on your way there! Just stay hydrated, even if it’s little sips throughout the day.
22. Surround yourself with things you love
Just because it’s the holidays, it doesn’t mean everything has to be festive. Lean on your favorite self care ideas and relaxing hobbies to get you through the holiday season. Read, play video games, watch TV, go for a run — whatever you usually enjoy can continue throughout the holidays and help bring some stability to your routine.
23. Get enough sleep
Not getting enough sleep can stop us from feeling at our best, and that’s especially true over the holidays. Look after your physical health and wellbeing by making sure you get enough sleep. Keep your evening routine as similar as possible, and avoid too many late nights.
24. Move your body
It’s so easy to become a sloth over the holidays — trust me, it’s my default mode! I love relaxing on the couch as much as anyone, but it’s also good to set aside time for physical activity. Move your body in a way that feels comfortable for you, whether that’s yoga, running, walking, dancing, or something else.
25. Make time for self care
Even though the holidays are so busy, you need to make room to take care of yourself. This means sticking to your usual self care routines or self care menu if you can, or adapting them if your situation is a little different at this time of year. Invest in self care activities that focus on wellness, mental health, physical health, and generally feeling good about yourself.
💛 Not sure where to start? Try my super list of self care ideas.
26. Try a digital detox
It’s tempting to spend this time of year scrolling through social media, watching everyone else’s highlight reels. While this can be a source of inspiration, it can also make us feel down or like we’re missing out on something. Try using the holidays as an excuse for a digital detox, and set new boundaries or digital self care habits around where and when you use your devices.
27. Declutter your space
You might not feel completely inspired to get up and tidy your space, but decluttering can be so useful — especially if you prefer a tidy home like I do. Put on your favorite playlist, set a timer, and challenge yourself to tidy and clean up a space within your home so that it feels cozy once again.
28. Take a break
After all the celebrations, tidying, and gift shopping, it’s easy to hit festive burnout. Give yourself a break from everything and take time away for yourself. Sit down, breathe, go for a walk — whatever works for you.
29. Express gratitude
Things might be busy, and we might be juggling lots of different emotions, expectations, and demands over the holidays. This creates a valuable reminder of the importance of gratitude and looking to the positives. Practice gratitude during the holidays by writing a gratitude list or in your gratitude journal. This isn’t just a great holiday self care idea, but a habit you can continue into the New Year too.
30. Take a nap
For some reason those holiday naps just hit differently. If there’s room in your schedule, go ahead and take a nap! Get cozy on the couch or snuggle into your bed with a book, then fall asleep for anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours for some much-needed extra sleep.
31. Make a list of things you love
The holidays can raise our stress levels, but one of my favorite ways to feel better again is to look at my list of all the things I love. Reflecting on how much I enjoy someone’s smile, my favorite blanket, or rewatching a much-loved movie makes me feel grateful and more at peace in my world.
32. Give a gift
Last but not least, one of my favorite holiday self care tips is to give someone a gift. It doesn’t have to be big, expensive, or store-bought, but a thoughtful gift from you to someone special creates a holiday cheer that’s hard to recreate.
Create a calmer holiday season with these holiday self care ideas
Be inspired by this list of holiday self care tips and ideas to practice self care, honor your boundaries, and create your own holiday magic! It’s your holiday season, so I hope you find the courage and strength to make it your own and stay true to your boundaries by using these holiday self care ideas and tips. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!
Leave a Reply