5 Self-Care Ideas For a Healthy Mind and Body During the Holiday Stress

December 15, 2023

Your work may stop over the holiday, but your healthy habits shouldn’t. Here are some self-care ideas you can do to support your mind and body throughout the Christmas rush

The holiday season is a double-edged sword. While you do have time away from work and school, this season also comes with the ever-familiar stress of the Christmas rush, family reunions, holiday shopping, and the like. From all the indulgences of year-end parties to the emotional strain of familial tensions, make sure to keep these five self-care ideas in mind to support your mind and body throughout this period.

Eat a healthy variety of meals

There’s no harm in indulging now and again in things like sugary sweets and fried food, but make sure that that’s not all you’re eating during the holidays. If you’re ordering a carb-heavy meal, add in a plate or two of nutrient-rich sides like grilled vegetables. This is so that you’re not only eating empty calories from breakfast to dinner. Then, for dessert, consider making something naturally sweetened to moderate your intake of added sugars.

Try your hand at cozy cardio

Feeling lethargic during the break is completely normal, so don’t beat yourself up if you can’t commit to your weekly dose of fitness classes or HIIT. That being said, adding physical activity to your daily routine is still highly encouraged. Something as simple as stretching exercises can help to keep your body mobile, but the TikTok viral “cozy cardio” concept is also perfect for the season. This simply means doing gentle cardio workouts in a comfortable environment, such as walking on a treadmill while binge-watching your favorite shows.

Write a journal entry every morning

Journaling is an underrated activity, but one we find helpful in keeping ourselves grounded and grateful. Answering journal prompts every morning will just take a few minutes, but maintaining this habit over a long period of time will do wonders for your mental health. You can also use this as an opportunity to think about your New Year’s resolutions.

Do breathing exercises during your downtime

Something else you can do to support your mental health over the holidays is to take up breathing exercises. Breath control through slow breathing techniques has long been studied for its positive psycho-physiological effects, but more so for its ability to reduce stress and induce relaxation. To do this at home, consider using health and fitness apps for guided sessions or use the 4-7-8 breathing technique. To do the latter technique, just remember to inhale for four seconds, hold for seven, and exhale for eight.

Make time for activities with your family pet

Another wholesome activity you can do to care for your well-being is to spend time with your family pet. By this, we specifically mean doing physical and mental exercises with them, such as taking longer walks, playing games, and swimming. This could be fun and healthy for everyone involved, and it fits in nicely with the holiday season.