Twelve self-care ideas for the holiday season
At Baa Stool, we’re all about self-care, and the winter seems to be the time of year when we need to take the most care of ourselves. Those long dark evenings, cold nights and hectic Christmas schedules can all add up to fatigue. So, here’s a new approach to ‘the twelve days of Christmas’. Twelve self-care ideas for the holiday season sent with our best wishes for a happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year from Baa Stool
On The first Day Of Christmas
Light a fire in the hearth and put your feet up! Yes, it’s Christmas Day but you need a few minutes of “me time” as the day can be exhausting. Watch the flames dance and flicker, while sipping a hot drink or even a glass of something fizzy, for at least ten minutes. Recall some of the times in your childhood when you sat or lay down beside an open fire, feeling no pressures at all, and allowed yourself to dream. Dream again now.
On The Second Day Of Christmas
Savour the moments! After all that preparation, Christmas Day is over and it’s already Boxing Day! Does anyone else feel alarmed at how quickly time passes? It all seems to flash by in a blur. So why not start journaling? Treat yourself to a diary or notebook then write down what you remember of yesterday – the people you were with, the funny things that were said, the gifts and heart-warming moments. Journaling is also a great way to improve sleep; by writing down the things that are on your mind before you go to bed, you can put them aside and forget about them until the next day.
On The Third Day Of Christmas
Get comfy and enjoy a good book! I don’t know about you, but one of the big treats of the festive season for me is curling up with a really good novel and having some downtime. Forget about tidying up or preparing the next meal. Everyone’s still full anyway! And there are enough snacks in the house to last until next winter. So, put your feet up on your Uber Pouffe grab a coffee and get comfortable. Then let your imagination take you into a whole new existence for a few minutes, allowing your brain to de-stress and relax.
On The Fourth Day Of Christmas
As the carol says, “Light a candle in the window; let the night know that you care…” A candle is a beautiful symbol of hope and light – the perfect symbol for Christmas. So why not light a candle or two to create a magical, intimate atmosphere in your home which will help you to unwind and really be in the moment?
On The Fifth Day Of Christmas
Switch off! All of us need some time away from screens – whether it’s a smartphone, computer or television screen. Screens are highly stimulating, in the way that caffeine is stimulating, to our brains, so it’s vital that we allow ourselves time away from them. We also need to forget about the endless stream of emails, social-media alerts and work commitments that are always there waiting for us. So, treat yourself to a day of unplugging devices, putting your feet up and enjoying some favourite magazines. You could even start one of those hundreds of jigsaw puzzles you’ve been given for Christmas!
On The Sixth Day Of Christmas
Enjoy the lull! Tomorrow will be New Year’s Eve – with yet more food preparation and arrangements to make. So, make today all about putting your feet up on a comfy stool and indulge yourself in some self-care. Why not take up a new mindful hobby, like knitting or crocheting or colouring, that keeps you in the moment and keeps your brain peaceful and calm? Make the most of a few quiet moments and put yourself first for a change.
On The Seventh Day Of Christmas
Brace yourself! This evening will be New Year’s Eve and whether you have plans to stay up till midnight and celebrate or not, today is all about reminiscing about the year that has gone by. And what a year it was! So take a few minutes to meditate on what’s happened in the last twelve months, possibly writing about it in your journal, and then putting behind the bead and enjoying the good memories so you’re ready to welcome the new year with all its potential and all its hope.
On The Eighth Day Of Christmas
Happy New Year! Congratulations, we’ve made it to 2024! Treat yourself to a lie-in in your cosy bed (you may well need it after all those glasses of bubbly last night!) and give yourself a well-earned rest. Instead of turning on the telly, why not switch on the radio for a change? The radio can be so inspiring – especially the plays (where you have to imagine what everyone looks like), documentaries and music. Among your New Year’s Resolutions, you may even want to include listening to the radio more often.
On The Nineth Day Of Christmas
Enjoy some family time. It’s the last Sunday of the Christmas period, and the perfect time to dig out some of those board games you’ve been given. Board games and card games really do create memorable family occasions; they’re often the times we look back on fondly as treasured parts of our childhood. So, allow yourself a family day today. Whether you plan to have a walk in the countryside or a ruthless game of Monopoly, have fun!
On The Tenth Day Of Christmas
Enjoy the bank holiday! This is the last day of the Christmas holidays (unless, of course, you live in Scotland and are still recovering from Hogmanay!). Grab a few quiet minutes, put your feet up on a cosy Tuffet and take a few deep breaths. You’ve made it through yet another festive season and, hopefully, by giving yourself a little feet-up self-care each day, you’re feeling refreshed and rejuvenated for what lies ahead.
On The Eleventh Day Of Christmas
Be gentle on yourself. Today you may be working from home or heading back to the office, feeling rather melancholy that another Christmas has passed. But don’t be downhearted. Hopefully, you’ve created many happy memories. Why not arrange to have a communal feet-up time with family or friends this evening? Whether you plan to have a natter face to face or online, it will be something to look forward to. You could chat about Christmas or the year ahead, or just how much you mean to each other.
On The Twelfth Day Of Christmas
And our final piece of advice for our Twelve self-care ideas for the holiday season? Write your 2024 Bucket List! Take some time at the end of the day to put your feet up and unwind in front of the fire. Enjoy a mug of hot chocolate (or any leftover bubbly!) and devise a crazy plan of all the things you’d love to do and achieve during 2025. The sillier the better! Set yourself a challenge or two, or plan a few inspirational days out with the family. But, most of all, hang onto that feeling of putting yourself first for a change and giving yourself some “me time” because you need to look after yourself, not just during the twelve days of Christmas, but every day of the year.