Ho-Ho-Hold Up!

Christmas is a week away?!?!? How on Earth did this happen? I seriously feel like it was just yesterday I was stuffing my face with turkey, pumpkin pie, and all the other delicious sides. Yet, here we are, and I don't know about you guys... but I'm starting to feel a little burnt out.

Tis the season for gifts, and snow (I wish!), and Santa, and twinkling lights. There will be many parties, family gatherings, and other festivities to attend over the next week. This season SHOULD be a time to slow down and enjoy the memories that are being made, but often it ends up being one of the most stressful times of year. Budgets being absolutely destroyed, straying off our usual nutrition and sleep patterns, our to-do lists ever expanding... it's no wonder that flu season kicks in hard right around this time of year! Our bodies are just not given a chance to heal... LIKE EVER.

She is such a great reminder to enjoy each moment.

Ironically enough, even today I am stressing trying to get this blog post up and out today along with everything else I need to get done. So here I am trying to drill home the lesson of taking it slower and trying to really enjoy the season, and I'm frantically trying to type at 200 words per minute.

Allow yourself to cut corners this season. Give yourself an out. Say yes to only the things that you want to do (not the things you feel you HAVE to do). Adjacent to cutting out the things that don't bring joy, add little things in (restful things!) that will bring you happiness and relaxation. Here are some quick ideas that might bring you some joy:

• Read a new or your favorite fiction book (even if it's just for 5 minutes!)

• Take a bath

• Go for a walk

• Close your eyes and just focus on your breath for a few minutes

• Bake cookies!

• Visit your favorite barista and get yourself a treat

• Journal about something you are grateful for

• FaceTime a friend

• Play with your dog

• Do your nails

Some of these things you might read and be like, "Blech"... and so don't do that one! The whole point of this is to just take some time for yourself each day to do something you enjoy, to calm or clear your mind, and will bring you rest and relaxation. I am going to make a point to do something for myself everyday until the New Year (and hopefully past that too!). This will not only help me enjoy the season more, but it will also give my body some time to reboot as necessary.

So, you know what? I'm going to take my own advice and cut this short. I LOVE spending time on my blog and sharing with you guys, but not at the expense of my sanity! My goal is to get another blog post up before Christmas so stay tuned! Let me know how you are going to take care of yourself over the next few weeks!

Merry Christmas, ya'll!