Mom’s Holiday Season Self-Care

Let’s face it, mamas: the Holiday season can be stressful!  As much as our children and husbands try, we all know that the cooking and shopping and decorating largely falls on us. We are women, hear us…jingle all the way!

Keeping the growing to-do list in mind, what do you say we all make a conscious effort to give ourselves a little love this holiday season so that, in turn, we can spread cheer even further for those around us?!  I’m certainly preaching to the choir here, but I’m certain with a little effort, we can de-stress the most stressful wonderful time of the year!

Here are some of my go-to methods for self-care that I hope to implement in full-force over the next couple of months.

-Find a good book.  Make it an easy read, keep it light, and keep it interesting. Pick a book that you can’t put down, but one that won’t totally consume you. My pick for this season is Jen Hatmaker’s For the Love.  It will make you laugh (like, a lot), it will make you think, it will make you give yourself a big ol’ pat on the back for being a mama.

 

-Take a hot bath. I get that not everyone is the bath type, but there is scientific proof to back up the fact that a hot bath is good for your body and mind.  My favorite way to unwind after a particularly long, stressful, cold day is with a bath full of scented epsom salts.  You can even make your own easily, and affordably!

 

-Hone in on your favorite at-home workout.  Thanksgiving and Christmas are notorious for wreaking havoc on a good workout regimen, so my advice during this busy season is to pick your favorite at-home workout and squeeze it in when you can! Now is not the time for fancy, expensive classes that you’ll feel guilty for missing.  If you’ve yet to find a workout that you love to do at home, try this one!

 

-Parcel out your plan. It seems counter-intuitive when you’re working to declutter your season, but a little planning on the front end goes a long way in the end.  There are only so many days between now and Christmas,  when most of us will finally be able to take a breather from the busy-ness. So, whip out your calendar and break up your tasks.  Shop for your immediate family one Saturday and wrap those gifts that same Sunday.  The next weekend, tackle your-laws.  On the weeknights, put together small gifts for neighbors, teachers, etc.  Do all of your decorating on one weekend at the beginning of the season and take it all down in one weekend at the end.  You get the idea.  Oh, and this is a perfect time to delegate! Husbands can pull things out of the attic and little ones can craft, wrap, look deliciously cute sitting under the tree, etc.

-Get some sleep. This one’s a biggie.  No one likes a grumpy mama, and nothing makes me grumpy faster than sleep deprivation!  It may seem like an insurmountable goal with all of the preparation and parties that seem to come along with these coming weeks, but do your very best to get 8-hours of sleep each night.  It’ll be so worth it when you’re stuck in line at Hobby Lobby for an hour attempting to buy that perfect water-skiing Santa Clause Christmas ornament your toddler can’t live without. ;)

And, there you have, it: Mom’s holiday season self-care.

What are some of your favorite ways to de-stress during busy seasons in life?