Finding time for self care during the Holidays

As December rolls around so do feelings of gusto, excitement and… well, stress. Although Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year (and it can be), it’s also one of the most tiring, stressful and overwhelming times too. From the (mental and financial) stresses of Christmas shopping to family gatherings, or even dealing with the short days and lack of daylight, we need to make sure we’re taking care of ourselves. Here’s our tips finding time for self care during the holidays.

Pay attention to nutrition. So, we’re definitely not saying Christmas is the time to diet (we love chocolate for breakfast as much as the next girl…) but eating rubbish for weeks at a time can leave you feeling sluggish, sickly and all round well… rubbish. It really is the time of the year when good habits go bye bye but try stick to a few of them. Drink a glass of water in between each glass of booze, for every sweet treat you eat, make sure you’re eating fruit and veg. Sounds rudimentary but by keeping yourself feeling physically healthy, it’ll help keep your mind feeling fresh too.

Reduce exposure to stimulation. This sounds like a weird one, but around Christmas time there are more sounds, sights, smells, and movement than any other time of year. Think about a shopping trip. Crowds of people, loud music, flashing lights, it’s enough to send your senses into overdrive, and you might find yourself feeling stressed, anxious, irritated or overwhelmed without realising why. Try driving your car with the music turned off or changing the Christmas tree lights to a steady glow, rather than blinking to give your senses a little break.

Find time for you. Schedule yourself some me-time each and every day. Whether that’s meditation, sitting in front of SAD lamp (to help you deal with the lack of sunlight) or taking the time to do your full skincare routine, time spent on yourself is time well spent. It’s one of the reasons we included aromatherapy oils in our Dawn and Dusk Elixirs. In the morning we take 3 deep breaths of the Dawn Elixir before applying it to allow the Pink Pepper, Fresh Ginger and Fennel pep up our minds. Then in the evening try relaxing with the Lavender, Ylang Ylang and Frankincense enriched Dusk Elixir. It sounds like such a tiny thing, but aromatherapy has been used by people across the globe for centuries for it’s benefits for the mind.

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Do a Detox (and not the food kind) Take a break from technology. Whether that’s not checking Instagram after 8pm and reading a book before bed instead or putting everyone’s phones away from 9am-9pm on Christmas day. Apart from the bright lights keeping your brain switched on, things like social media (especially during the festive season) can be detrimental to your mental health, inducing negative feelings of comparison, looking at the the extravagance of other people’s gifts, lifestyles or traditions. Which leads to the next one…

Start with gratitude. Find the positive each day. Ok sooo maybe your brother in law is super annoying but your sister is probably pretty amazing and you’re lucky to be-able to spend more time with her at Christmas. And so on… thinking positively is a habit we’re pretty sure we all need to practice all year round (ourselves included.) 

These are just a few of many ways to practice self-care during the holidays and throughout the rest of the year. Got some suggestions of your own? Come let us know @scientiabeauty on Instagram.