Prioritizing Self-Care During the Holiday Season: Reclaiming Yourself in a Busy Time
The holiday season is often framed as a time of giving, doing, hosting, and showing up—often at the expense of your own wellbeing. For women already carrying mental load, invisible labor, and caregiving roles, the holidays can push self-care to the very bottom of the list.
But the truth is: the more stressful the season, the more essential your self-care becomes.
Why Self-Care Slips During the Holidays
You’re pulled into other people’s needs.
Routines get disrupted.
Social obligations increase.
Perfectionism convinces you that you should “push through.”
But self-care isn’t indulgence—it’s maintenance.
What Self-Care Can Look Like This Season
1. Micro-Moments of Rest
Self-care doesn’t have to be an hour-long ritual.
Try:
Five minutes of breathing
Sitting in the car before going inside
A quiet walk
A nighttime wind-down ritual
Small moments create big shifts.
2. Protecting Your Sleep
Rest is the backbone of emotional regulation. Give yourself permission to leave early, sleep in, or say no to late-night commitments.
3. Nourishing Yourself (Mind and Body)
This isn’t about diet culture—it’s about ensuring you’re fed, hydrated, and grounded. Your body needs fuel to support your emotional labor.
4. Creating Space for Joy
Not the performative kind, but the gentle kind. What actually makes you feel alive? Music? A cozy blanket? Books? Crafting? Laughter? Let joy be enough.
5. Saying No Without Apology
“No” is a form of self-care.
Your mental health is a valid reason—no explanation needed.
You Deserve to Feel Well, Too
Self-care during the holidays isn’t selfish—it’s responsible. When you care for yourself, you show up more present, more grounded, and more connected to what this season is truly about.
