By Hannah Mosser, MA, LPC
If you’re anything like me, you love this festive time of year. As I sit here typing, I am drinking an iced coffee with homemade peppermint whip cream on top. It tastes magical – like December (I know it’s not even Thanksgiving yet… !). There are many perks and small enjoyments that come with the holiday season, but there are also some unique challenges. These may include: extra time with family, hosting family, volunteering, getting caught up in all of the “shoulds” and expectations of this time of year. Often in the midst of such busyness – even good busyness, it is easy to neglect time and care for oneself. So, rather than presenting you with detail on the potential stressors that you may be anticipating, I want to provide some options of what self-care can look like, especially at this time of year.
Rarely is self-care “one size fits all.” Oftentimes, a good place to start in discovering what best serves you when you are feeling depleted is to consider what tends to help you feel recharged. For instance, as a therapist I spend a lot of my time sitting and listening to others. While I love my career, I have learned that in order to recharge I must do something active, almost to counterbalance the stagnant physical posture that composes much of my time. So, recharging for me often looks like a walk with a friend or engaging in an activity where I am physically in motion. For others, perhaps a teacher, a nurse, a carpenter – someone whose day to day is on their feet, self-care may look like slowing down, reading a book, journaling, or drinking a cup of coffee with a friend.
Take a moment to consider what you typically need in the way of self-care. I have compiled a few ideas for self-care below that are broken into the following categories: physical, emotional, and relational. Keep in mind that this list is not meant to be exhaustive but provides some options that might help you think more creatively about how to meet your own needs.
1. Physical
Healthy Eating – This one feels unpopular to explore in today’s culture, but necessary nevertheless. At minimum, “healthy eating” means that you are eating consistently. Ensuring that you are consuming three meals a day is a good place to start.
Hydration – Water is your friend! This one feels self-explanatory; it is important to be hydrated and there is truly nothing better than water to do the trick. If you struggle with this one, get a reusable water bottle that motivates you to drink more often.
Exercise or Walking – There are so many benefits to moving your body, but from a mental health perspective, it is such a wonderful stress reliever. Often times removing oneself from a space that is causing you stress (at home, work, in a classroom) and taking a brief walk can assist in resetting your perspective, and provides space from the situation.
2. Emotional
Journal – This might be my most recommended piece of advice to clients. Journal! If you are struggling with identifying your emotions or knowing how to move through certain emotions, journaling can assist with providing much needed clarity.
Meditation – Sometimes when feeling overwhelmed or anxious, taking a few minutes to intentionally pause and clear your mind can be so beneficial. There are many apps that make this easier to do than ever, such as Calm App, Smiling Mind, and Headspace.
Nature Walk – Stepping outside and into crisp, fresh air can be so purifying mentally and emotionally. As previously mentioned, taking a brief walk or intentionally immersing yourself into nature can provide a sense of rest from the chaos and noise that tend to shape our lives in this busy season.
3. Relational
Coffee with a Friend – If you’re feeling lonely, it can be a good idea to reach out to a friend and reconnect. This can be informal, over breakfast or with a cup of coffee (or even a walk), but taking that first step to connect after a long time of feeling disconnected can be so important.
Join a Group – Maybe you are feeling lonely or isolated and don’t have built-in friends to reach out to; consider joining a group. This can feel like a huge step for many, but there are programs through churches or even online platforms to connect in the real world (like Bumble for Friends or MeetUp) that can be a great starting point for forming new connections with others.
How to Get Help
If this blog resonates with you, whether in anticipating an increase of stress around the holidays, or recognizing that you have difficulty with beginning or maintaining habits of self-care, reach out to one of the therapists at Lime Tree and we would be honored to walk alongside you as you journey toward a healthier way of moving through this holiday season. We provide individual anxiety counseling, grief counseling and Christian counseling via online counseling in Pennsylvania, online counseling in North Carolina or in-person counseling in Lower Gwynedd, PA. Contact us today for a free 15-minute phone consultation with one of our counselors today or schedule a 50-minute initial session. We look forward to working with you!