Hey, Sis! Are You Taking Care of YOU This Holiday Season?

This time of year is always exciting, especially if you have a little one or two under foot. Who doesn’t like good food, presents, and pretty things?

black-mother-baby-christmas

With all of the excitement of the holidays, however, we can often forget to think of ourselves. Sure, you might grab a sparkly/shiny thing for yourself as you peruse the isles or interwebs for gifts (okay, maybe that’s just me #noshame), but I’m not referring to gifts. I’m referring to things you can do to increase your inner-peace when the outside world gets to chaotic.

Below are my 5 self-care tips for the holiday season:

1. Pause

It seems simple enough, but when was the last time you just stopped? When things start to feel completley impossible, before giving in to despair, I pause. I take a few deep breathes and allow my emotions to wash over me. My problem may not be solved by a few deep breathes, but it sure helps to keep me calm, centered, and focused on the things that matter.

2. Make Things Easy on Yourself

Young African Excited Woman While Shopping Online On Laptop

I don’t have to tell you about the wide range of emotions this time of year can bring on. So give yourself a break and do whatever you can to make it painless. I personally prefer to do all of my shopping online. Not only that, I only shop businesses that take PayPal as a form of payment. Why? Because PayPal allows you to shop from the comfort of your home, without needing to get your wallet and credit card. #aintnobodygottimeforallthat. Also, this holiday season, PayPal is offering free return shipping through a program called Return Shipping On Us on items up to $30 for up to 11 purchases. #winning

3. Help Someone Else

There are so many ways you can help someone else during this time of year. And even though this post is about taking care of yourself, one of the ways you can do that is by spreading a little joy to someone you may not know.

In addition to donating to a woman’s shelter, this year I also decided to do a ton of my holiday shopping from small businesses.  As a small business myself, I know first-hand the challenges one might face trying to keep the dream alive. If you’re going to be shopping anyway, why not spend those dollars  where you know the proceeds will go towards helping someone achieve their dreams?  And not for nothing, folks, there is something to be said about the experience of shopping with a company where the owner hand makes the products to order.  I promise, you’ll never go wrong shopping with Phillip and Mary of The Wild Mountain Soap Company (shop HERE). And, of course, I shopped via  PayPal (click HERE for more), and the checkout process was easy as pie. No credit cards, no entering all my information, just click and done.

wild-mountain-soap-company-review

4. Take a Hot Bath or Shower

I’m not much of a bath person, but I can LIVE in the shower.  I take hot showers year-round, even during the summer! It’s the best de-stressor. However, as  a business-owner, mom, wife, and all-around crazy person, I sometimes skip out on my hour long shower in exchange for a quick two-minute in and out routine. While the two-minute routine may get all the essentials clean, it does absolutely nothing for helping me to stay calm and zen.

Last night it had been a few days since I’d taken a real shower, so when my order from The Wild Mountain Soap Company came in I was more than ready to indulge, and indulge I did!

First,  my lips were feeling a little chapped so I slathered on one of their all-natural lip balms in Pumpkin Cheesecake! I literally wanted to eat my lips off. It smelled so good and my lips are still moisturized.

wild-mountain-soap-company1

wild-mountain-soap-company5

Then I hopped into the shower with my Chocolate Marshmallow Sugar Whip, and ladiiiessss!! This stuff is divine. It’s a sugar scrub, soap, moisturizer and a shaving creme all in one. It comes in sooo many flavors, but this right here?!! #heaven

wild-mountain-soap-company3 wild-mountain-soap-company2 wild-mountain-soap-company4

I cannot tell you how incredible I felt after my shower. My husband instantly noticed my mood change and and even “helped” me to lather on some body butter. It was the cheapest and best spa date I’ve ever had #keeptheromancealive.

wild-mountain-soap-company7

5. Practice Affirmations

Affirmations can be hard to adopt. I won’t lie. But they are, for me, the single best way to remind yourself that you are doing an amazing job at this thing called life, and for that reason alone you deserve a moment wherein you are celebrated. Sure, we can all improve on a few things, but none of us have made it this far without having conquered a few lions. So start practicing. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Not in the new year. NOW. Get in the mirror every day and remind yourself that you are a queen, and watch the magic unfold.

Share Some of your self-care tips below!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

 

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *