Season’s Greetings! Self-care Tips for the Holiday Season

Self-care Tips for the Holiday Season

(The following is the text of our holiday video/podcast message.)

2020 has been a very eventful year, to say the least. Many of us will be glad to see this year come to an end. Most of us have found ourselves under an unusual amount of stress, trying to make the best of the strange situation of the pandemic. Too many families are dealing with loss and grief. And even more people are trying to manage our lives with less money, more responsibilities, unfamiliar ways of working and living, and even more uncertainty than we’re used to.

But our hope for all of our viewers and listeners is that this holiday season is a time when you can catch your breath, renew your energy and spirit, and enjoy the love and warmth of your family and friends—whether you do so face-to-face or through Zoom meetings or the telephone.

In the midst of all the gift-giving, family fun, and merry-making, The Clutter Fairy’s special holiday wish for you is that you’ll set aside a moment or two just for yourself. Take time for a little self-care, and it will leave you in better health, better spirits, and more ready and able to give of yourself to the people that you love.

In support of that wish, we’d like to offer a few tips for your holiday self-care:

• First, if you’re still going a hundred miles an hour: Stop! You’ve probably done enough, and even if you haven’t, it’s just as important to save enough of your own energy to enjoy what’s left of the season.
• Don’t be afraid to say a polite “no” to obligations, invitations, or requests for your time that don’t fit within the season that you’ve planned for yourself.
• If you’ve run out of time—or don’t have the resources—to do any more gift-shopping, consider giving anyone left on your list the gift of your time, your ear, your kind heart, and your undivided attention.
• Ask for what you want—especially if you’re someone who carries a lot of responsibility for other people the rest of the year—and let other people take care of you once in a while.
• Savor a favorite tradition, or try something entirely novel—experiment with a new recipe, learn a song, or play around with an unfamiliar craft.
• Take time to enjoy the lights, colors, sounds, smells, and tastes of the season. Don’t let chaos distract you from all the good things. Make a few time-outs happen. Turn off the TV, the computer, step away from the mobile phone, and focus only on being happy in the moment.
• Be open to serendipity and happy surprises. We often try to plan everything, but reality almost never works out exactly to plan. So be receptive to changes of plans and unexpected experiences. They might turn out to be a delightful treat for your family!
• Create space for peace and quiet in your life. Set aside time to rest, focus, and pay attention to the meaning that this season holds for you. Listen to your own heart, and be open to the acceptance and wisdom you find there.

To all of those who’ve participated in our live webcasts this year and to everyone who watches on YouTube or listens to the podcast, stay safe, and take good care of yourselves. We wish you and your loved ones a holiday season full of joy, light, and peace!

Happy holidays, everybody!