‘Tis the season when holiday parties, winter travel, and year-end deadlines take over all of your free time. While it’s mostly fun and games, it often means less sleep and more stress, which can cause anything from illness to breakouts to burnout.
Calm the seasonal chaos with these helpful tips for actually prioritizing self-care, so you can stay healthy, happy, and radiant well into the new year.
✓ Don’t overcomplicate it
In case you’re one who’s quick to write off self-care as “unnecessary” or something you “don’t have time for,” think again. The secret is deciding what you want it to look like and budgeting the time for it (no matter how little). For some, it may look like a face mask and bath, a walk in nature, or a quiet meditation. For others, it may simply be 10 minutes to disconnect with a hot tea or a commitment to 15 minutes of reading before bedtime. No matter how you choose to show up for yourself, don’t overcomplicate it. In fact, the easier you make it for yourself, the more likely you are to stick to it.
✓ Block off “me time” in your calendar
If you’re anything like us, you live and breathe by your calendar. Physically block off your self-care “task” in your agenda each day or week to not only solidify it as a priority, but to also help you remember it’s a commitment you can’t cancel. To ensure you don’t reschedule it when something “more important” comes up, be realistic with how much time you can block off for it. Even 10 or 15 minutes will do!
✓ Set boundaries and don’t be afraid to say “no”
The holiday season makes it especially tempting to overcommit to dinners, parties, and events. While it’s a blast to have festive to-dos on the calendar, there are only so many days to do it all before we’re dashing from one thing to the next without soaking in each moment. Instead, RSVP “yes” to the plans that will make your spirits bright and “no” to those that feel more stressful than not. Trust us, your friends and family will understand you’re booked and busy.
✓ Commit to a routine, skincare included
At the end of the long day, who really has the energy for an hour-long bedtime routine and/or a 15-step skincare regimen? If this works for you, more power to you, but we’re here to remind you that it doesn’t have to be this way. Small habit shifts, like streamlining your skincare regimen, can make it possible to crawl into bed sooner — something especially tempting now that it’s getting dark earlier. Our simple yet effective four-step regimen is purposefully designed to pack a punch at every step with gently exfoliating and powerfully hydrating ingredients that are proven to transform skin (just check out these results). Featuring everything your skin needs and nothing you don’t, you can spend less time on your skincare and more time sleeping, or whatever else your heart desires.
✓ Move your body regularly
Finding the motivation to exercise is no easy feat, especially when the weather is cold and your schedule is jam-packed. Regardless, it’s essential to motivate yourself to get up and move every day. After all, sweating it out is good for both your mind and body. It’ll keep you physically healthy while also helping to relieve stress and boost your mood (thanks, endorphins). Set aside at least 30 minutes each day for moderate-intensity physical activity, plus, get up and walk or stretch for approximately 3 minutes every hour to avoid sitting for prolonged periods.
✓ Spend time with people who recharge you
Alone time is beneficial for a variety of reasons. It can reduce stress, enhance productivity, and help you regulate emotions. For this reason, when you choose to spend time with others, it’s not unreasonable to expect similar results. So, next time you’re making plans, prioritize those with loved ones who recharge your soul and don’t drain your social battery.
✓ Prioritize rest
Rest, which is not to be conflated with laziness, allows for both your mind and body to recover from day to day. Whether that’s in the form of sleep or general relaxation, it’s not only okay to take a rest day but encouraged. Depending on your fitness level, 1 to 3 rest days a week are advised, with low-impact activity like stretching or walking sprinkled in to create the perfect healthy balance.
