How to Take Care of Yourself During Holiday Season
Parents, we know that that holidays can really throw you off your game! Schedules fly out the door. Vacation breaks, special events, and unstructured time periods are not always your friend. Many of our children depend on routines. Find your battery draining quickly? Here are our top 5 helpful strategies:
Wake Up Right: Set the alarm for 30 minutes before your children get up. Sound nuts? Seriously, the way you start the day can make a huge difference in your tolerance & energy. Quickly run through a "I'm thankful for" - list of five - before you get out of bed. A few deep belly breaths, light stretching, caffeine if that's your thing, and then spend a few minutes reading something inspirational. #1 Rule: no immediately going to read emails, news, or FB! Fill your mind with peace, calm, and joy. We need it.
Overscheduling: Super busy with holiday parties, last minute shopping, cooking & cleaning, and running errands? I try to schedule doctor appointments during school breaks so my kids don’t miss school. It gets hectic. I remind myself to schedule in downtime that we can just relax.
Nourishment: Be sure to fuel up with healthy foods. This time of year brings tons of sugar, processed foods, wheat/gluten, etc. If these things make you feel lousy, set loving limits. Decide ahead of time what you’re going to allow yourself and your kids to have. No getting around it: crappy food makes us feel bad. Who wants to feel bad after a 10 second party-in-the-mouth? Not me or you!
Exit Plan: Does your child become overwhelmed in large gatherings, sensory-overload situations, or in new environments? Have an exit strategy. Your family may need to take two cars to an event, arrange for childcare, or bring an iPad or other favorite item. Have realistic expectations and don’t set yourself up for failure. Also, no need to apologize or give lengthy explanations. If you need to, keep the visit and the explanations short and be proud of your parenting skills! No guilt or shame allowed!
Ending the Day: A tired parent has few reserves for challenging times. Skip caffeine after 3 pm. No computers, phones, or televisions in the two hours before bedtime...stimulates the brain to stay awake. Do some light stretching, dim the lights in the house, and take a warm bath or shower to wind down. The purpose of these suggestions is to signal your brain and body that it’s time to rest. Do you have trouble shutting off your brain after you get into bed? Keep a pad by your bed to write down your thoughts. Dump it onto the paper and let it go as you drift off to sleep.