Even if you love Christmas, it can be a very stressful and demanding time of year, especially if you have a family to arrange the festivities for and especially if you’re playing host to the big Christmas lunch. Although it’s the season of giving, it’s also important to give back to yourself by ensuring that you take some quality alone time and care for number one.
Here are some great suggestions for taking time for yourself over Christmas.
Read a Book
Christmas is the perfect time to snuggle down and get cozy with a good book. Especially if you have a classic Christmas read which will still let you enjoy the festive mood, without all the responsibility and stress. Reading at Christmas time is also a great activity if you’re looking to escape all the noise (and Christmas music).
Play Mobile Games
If you’ve had a little too much face to face contact over Christmas, it can be very overwhelming – especially for your social battery. If you need to recharge and escape through technology on your own for a little while, there are plenty of games and apps you can find – even Christmas-related – or you can try tennis betting.
Watch a Movie
Pick a festive favorite and get cozy on the couch with some great snacks. This is a good idea if you have a favorite Christmas movie you haven’t been able to watch yet, whether it’s because your family prefer other movies or because you simply haven’t had the time. Make time for yourself to enjoy whichever film you like, and it doesn’t even have to be Christmas related. Allow yourself to switch off.
Don’t Forget to Exercise
During the Christmas period, it can be very unappealing to venture outside during dark and cold days and nights, so an exercise you can easily do in the warmth of your home is always a plus. Relaxing exercises like yoga are beneficial for spending some peaceful time alone and trying to relax away from it all.
Know That It’s Okay to Say No
Christmas will have you facing a lot of social obligations and spending time with friends and family. This doesn’t mean that you’re forced to spend every second of every day with other people. If you’ve had many days spent with others, it’s okay to turn down a social event for a day in order to spend some time alone and gain some peace away from the celebrations.
Say yes to the social occasions you have to – or really want to – but think carefully about ones you’re not too bothered about. Especially with New Year’s also around the corner.
Get Up a Little Earlier
It may not sound appealing, but even ten minutes can make a difference. If you live with others, getting up before them ensures that you have some alone time first thing in the morning to spend in a way you enjoy, whether it’s simply sitting with a cup of coffee, exercising, writing in a journal or taking a bath.
