The holiday hustle
I love Christmas. It is by far my favorite holiday, but the stress of the season can sometimes sneak up on me. This year was no exception.
As moms, we wear many hats. It takes the skill of a CEO to be the one who does it all: meal planning, cooking, cleaning, driving kids to ALL the places, working, and on and on and on. Then December rolls around and we somehow must find the time to shop, wrap, decorate, go to holiday parties, visit Santa…I could keep going, but you get the picture.
This year I was ready to tackle it all with ease and grace thanks to my newly found ninja-like time management skills. It was working perfectly, until it wasn’t. I had scheduled each day to a T but forgot the most important part: me-time.
My body has the uncanny ability of letting me know when I’m living out of balance. My back starts to hurt, I get acid reflux, and it feels next to impossible to wake up in the morning. When it comes to balance and self-care, my body is like my dog pestering me for dinner – it’s not going to allow me to forget without many not so subtle reminders.
So yesterday I cleared my carefully scheduled afternoon and dragged myself to a yin yoga class. After, I treated myself to a yummy oat milk latte, and then went home and did NOTHING for the remaining hour before my kids got off the bus. It was glorious and exactly what I needed.
I challenge you
If you’re feeling the holiday stress like I was, here is my challenge to you: cancel something on your calendar and get in some quality me-time. The emphasis here is on cancel. Do not just fit it in to your already busy schedule. Practice letting go of the things you feel like you “should” be doing but don’t really want to do. If you’re honest with yourself, you will find at least one party, tradition or commitment that you can let go of.
Christmas is the season of love and giving. Give yourself permission to extend that generosity to yourself. ❤
