Remember to Take Time for Yourself

As the end of the year rolls around and our towns turn in to winter wonderlands, a buzzing excitement begins to fill the air. No matter what holidays you celebrate, the end of the year always seems to be filled to the brim with events. Making the last few months both exciting and busy, and undeniably overwhelming. Thus, it’s important to remember to take time for yourself during these last few hectic months and find ways to decompress and relax.

Finding time for yourself and different ways to relax is completely unique to you. During the holiday season it can be hard to find some quiet time, so when you do, you must take full advantage and know what activity works the best for you. You want to find an activity that allows for you to mentally escape from the world around you and provides a sense of happiness and calm to the quick-moving world. You may need thirty minutes of complete silence, or an hour of music blaring. Maybe you need to draw yourself a bath, pour a glass of your favorite wine, light a slow burning candle, and take a few minutes to forget about the rest of the world and simply find comfort in your afternoon of self-care. Another option could be to take the time to read that book that you’ve had sitting on your nightstand for the past few months. Take thirty minutes out of each of your days to finally get the chance to do something for yourself and obtain some peace of mind. You could also take advantage of the quiet by taking part in some sort of meditation or yoga. Set aside some time, burn a woodsy scented candle to further get in touch with nature, and focus solely on your body and mind. Being attentive with your body can help to alleviate built up anxiety and stress and lead to increased motivation and mental clarity. If yoga isn’t your thing, weightlifting, running, or even walking, are great alternatives to decompress. Working on your body and allocating a block of time each day for your fitness, gives you an outlet to relieve tension, or a time to escape your busy schedule. You could also find ways to destress by still staying in the holiday mood and being productive. Take time to finish those house projects you have had in the back of your mind or finally finish your seasonal decorating. Reserve your weekends for baking and try out all of the seasonal holiday treats (you could give the leftovers to neighbors, co-workers, or bring them to get-togethers). Or simply end every evening with an hour doing something only for yourself by watching an episode of your favorite show.

Whether it’s only thirty minutes or an entire day on the weekend, taking time to focus only on yourself is crucial to making the hectic holiday season enjoyable. Everyone needs an outlet to relieve tension and destress; a time where the rest of the world is put on the backburner and you are allowed to simply enjoy the moment around you. The last few months of the year are filled with family, friends, gift-buying, events, holidays, and basically no time for relaxing. So, while you’re caring for the ones around you, make sure to also care for yourself and treat yourself every single day with a little bit of “me time”.

-Kenzington Baxter, Guest Writer