As I have mentioned before, dear reader, my love for the Berkshires is long-distance as I am based in Brooklyn. And while the holidays are a great time to be in the Berkshires, I just can’t quite give that first place mantel to anyone else but New York City herself.
To me, there’s truly nothing quite like the holidays in NYC.
And sure, when you’re walking to the tree at Rockefeller Center on a Saturday in December in between two Rockettes performances and the street is filled with so many tourists a women from New Jersey yells at you just for you to yell back at her, it can feel miserable.
But what about the lights! The Macy’s windows! The atmosphere! It’s almost like there’s no other place like it!
But once you look past the sheen of the holiday lights and the caroling on the sidewalks, the holidays can bring its own set of anxieties.
Did I buy the right gift? Will I impress the in-laws this season? Will my uncle ask that question again, and how will I dodge it?
I get it, dear reader. And that’s why I wanted to write this entry for this week. I wanted to touch on the importance of using the holidays for you. Yes, it’s for visiting family and coming together, and seeing how the holidays can mean a restful time for you is just as important.
So let’s dive in!
Tips for Holiday Self-Care
Get Enough Sleep
It can be so very tempting to do everything you can possibly do for fun or for family during the holidays, but please make sure to prioritize sleep!
For many people, this is a chance where you can put off work and focus on your free time. So at minimum find time to keep the alarm turned off, and get at least 7-8 hours of sleep. Rest and recharge so you can walk into the new year refreshed and ready to go!
Stay Present (During Presents Or Otherwise)
In today’s society we’re always so focused on what’s next. And especially during this time of year we’re always so focused on what the new year is going to bring.
But this is the perfect time to meditate and stay present. Sure, it’s also a good time to reflect on how the year has been, but that can always push you towards thinking about the future.
You can reflect later! But in the meantime, even finding 5 min a day where you can be by yourself to stay present and meditate can offer so much balance.
In moments like these when I’m with family, I try to really stay present and soak in the moment.
Unplug!!!
For you yourself to recharge, a big help might be to unplug. And that means from everything.
Those emails can be answered later.
Your social media doesn’t need an update.
Feel like you’ll miss out from seeing your co-worker or your high school friend (whom you never speak to in real life) post about their kid’s unwrappings? Need to stay up to date with the memes of the end of the year? You don’t need any of that!
And when you’ve finished unplugging, it’ll all be there when you come back.
And I mention unplugging at the end of this post because in the end, unplugging can benefit your holiday self-care at every angle!
Unplugging means you can regulate your sleep cycle.
It also means you can stay present without focusing on a screen or the next time you’ll be able to see it.
I can’t recommend this enough. This is the biggest form of self-care for you, and in doing so, you can really work towards a happier and healthier holiday season.
Happy Holidays!!!
