Well, the holidays are upon us. (If you’ve seen Over the Garden Wall, imagine me saying that like the crazy carriage driver barreling through the woods going “THE BEAST IS UPON ME!” If you haven’t seen Over the Garden Wall, watch it. You will love it.) Love them or hate them, I think we can all agree that this time of year gets a little stressful – family drama, politics, conflicting schedules when folks are in town, and all the cooking and cleaning that go into preparing for visitors can really wear you down after a while.
This time of year has always been really hard for me as a naturally anxious/often depressed introvert with very different political opinions than many of my family members. I know for a fact I’m not alone, and even though I’m in a way better mental space this year than I have been in the past, I’m still bracing myself for impact, if you will. I thought today I’d share a few tips for how I’m planning to deal with the holidays in the hope that they might help you, too! So without further ado, my 5 self-care tips for the holiday season…
1. Carve out some you-time
This might sound impossible, especially if your family is staying with you or you’re hosting your holiday dinner at your house, but I promise you can do it. You just need to be firm in your boundaries. Go to the store alone, take a long bath or shower alone, or lock yourself in your bedroom “for a nap” and surf the Internet for a little while. A tiny escape from the chaos will give you a chance to breathe and recharge a little before the next round of communal potato-peeling or whatever most families do this time of year. If you have too much to do to consider taking a minute off, then it’s time for #2…
2. Call in some backup
You don’t have to handle all this alone! If it’s cooking and cleaning that have you stressed, ask a friend or family member to help you out. They’ll do it – after all, it’s in their best interest if you don’t have a meltdown. Delegate some of the tasks to others, even if you feel pressured to do it all yourself. If you’re not obligated to do anything other than show up to dinner and even THAT has you buggin’ (which it probably does, if your family is a little weird) then literally call a sympathetic figure and talk it out. Chances are your friends will be able to sympathize – EVERYONE has their own version of politically-incorrect Uncle George who tries to get under their skin. Talking things out or ranting a little will help ease your personal burden a little.
3. Put your health first
With all the stress and people around this time of year, it’s pretty common to catch a cold. Take your vitamins, maybe chug an Emergen-C, and wash your hands to make sure you don’t get sick! Eat lots of fruits and vegetables to keep the colds at bay. If you do start feeling a little under the weather, don’t ignore it! Start treating it right away, whether conventional medicine is how you roll or if you’re more of a tea-and-herbs kind of person (or a mix of both!) I ALWAYS have sinus issues around this time of year that turn into a sore throat situation, so decongestent + eucalyptus essential oil (or some equivalent) + hot tea + salty soup are my best friends. I also can’t guarantee that this works, but I SWEAR that taking Epsom salt baths helps me get over a cold in a snap. Find a combination that works for you and nip that sickness in the bud!
4. Use your inner witch
When mundane means fail, you’ve got magic on your side! Carry crystals with you for protection – smoky quartz or obsidian to absorb negativity, for example, or amethyst to keep you calm when tensions arise. You can create a sigil for yourself with the intention of not letting the holidays get to you and draw it somewhere on your bod (or just carry it in your pocket.) A tarot reading can also help – asking the cards “how can I have the best holiday possible?” or something equally focused on the positives will give you advice on how to make it a good day no matter what.
5. Say no
Last but not least, when all other means fail, it’s okay to say no to doing things with your family. Your mental health comes first – if the thought of sitting through dinner with your relatives makes you queasy, it’s okay for you not to go or to only go for a little while. You can always fake sick if you need an excuse! That’s right, I’m advocating lies – sometimes it’s just not worth an argument, and people are not likely to argue of you say you’re not feeling well. This gets a little more complicated if you’re the one hosting dinner, but you can always say you need a bit of a lie-down when the festivities get too stressful (I am 100% guilty of going to bed at my own party before. No shame.)
So that’s how I’m planning to survive the holidays this year! I’m actually pretty excited for Thanksgiving dinner, to be honest. I used to hate every Thanksgiving food aside from mashed potatoes so it was never really that fun for me, but my tastes have grown in recent years and now I’m gonna need to eat ALL the stuffing. I hope these tips might help your holidays go a little more smoothly if you tend to struggle around this time of year!
Do you have any coping tips you’d like to share? Leave them in the comments, I’d love to hear them! <3
