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Make sure to take some time for yourself this holiday season

It’s the holiday season, and whether you love this time of year or not, it can stir up complex feelings and mixed emotions. For some it’s a time to connect with family while others may not have family to connect with. But we can all connect with ourselves.

People often spend the end of the calendar year looking back and reflecting on what’s happened—both good and bad—what we want more (or less) of, and what we need throughout the holidays. Reflecting on how nature responds to the winter season is one way to help us consider this.

Dormant, stuck, or waiting?

Winter is a time when nature and animals rest. As animals ourselves, it makes sense for us to rest too, but how we rest depends on our own needs. For example, if you’ve had a challenging, hectic, or even exciting year, you might feel like being dormant, staying home and doing nothing. That’s okay! Our bodies need time to recharge and rest. Just because our world is connected 24/7 it doesn’t mean you have to be. Being busy doesn’t have anything to do with your worth. 

Give yourself permission to do nothing

Writing yourself a permission slip can help you stay mindful that you’ve given yourself this time to let your mind and body recover so you don’t let the guilt of a world that seems to celebrate busyness take over.

But maybe you’re already rested and recharged, and you’re feeling stuck. Winter is a good time for creative destruction: stop doing things you don’t enjoy anymore to create time and space for new things that will bring you joy. Think about what drains you and, where you can, stop doing those things or look for ways to make them less draining. 

Write your intentions down, “This season I am no longer….” 

For example, if you find that cooking dinner every day is draining, you could spend one afternoon a week preparing meals that you can reheat and eat (or toss in a slow cooker) throughout the week. 

As you think about what you want to use your time and energy for, consider what fills your cup. If you love helping others, look for an opportunity to volunteer for a cause that matters to you. If you love learning, sign up for a new course, queue up some YouTube tutorials, or get a book on a subject that interests you. If you want to spend more time connecting with people, plan recurring dates to connect, in-person or virtually.

And if you feel rested and aren’t stuck, you might simply be waiting whether it’s for something you know is coming up or for something unexpected. In this case, you could make your waiting more active. Is there something you can do to help get ready for something that’s already planned? For example, someone taking a trip might start a packing list while someone starting a new semester of school might get a planner, stock up on supplies, or get a head start on readings. If you can feel yourself waiting but aren’t sure what for, doodling, journaling, collaging, or even taking a personality test might help you uncover something that inspires you.

How ever you choose to spend the holiday season, make sure to give yourself the gift of some time to rest and reflect. You deserve it.

Source: cmha.ca

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