Christmas Self-Care: These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things!

As we jump into December, I am reminded of the busyness of the holiday season. How do we keep it real during the hustle and bustle of the holiday parties, family reunions, Christmas events, and the like? It's not always easy to keep that balance, but 25-Days of Christmas can be as simple as 25-minutes of daily "me time."

Here are a few of my favorite things that help me live a joyous, stress-free Christmas Ho Ho Season!

Take some time to schedule your favorite Christmas activities and put them on your calendar so that you can be sure to have a holly jolly Christmas this year. (Remember to prioritize and set boundaries).
Start your morning with some Christmas tunes sprinkled with laughter and dancing. Here are some of my favorite artists singing Christmas carols: Elvis Presley, Michael Buble, The Rat Pack, and NSYNC
Bake your favorite holiday dessert. Here's mine: Pumpkin Spice Bars! (Thanks to my good friend Betty Crocker, it's been a family tradition for years and a great hit at Christmas parties.)
Listen to Bing Crosby as you make out your Christmas cards.
Take some time to enjoy the outdoor festivities, like ice skating, sledding, nature, and watching the sunset.
Bake some Christmas goodies to share with your friends and neighbors or local organizations.
Volunteer your time at a local organization, such as a the San Diego Rescue Mission or Toys for Joy.
Clean out your closet, go through your blankets, or raid your kitchen for items you no longer use or need and donate them to a local charity.
Remember to be present; live in the moment and enjoy the merriness of the season.
Create a list of your favorite self-care things to do for yourself. Schedule and prioritize your time to take care of your needs. This is your sacred time.
Schedule time with your family to watch your favorite Christmas shows, such as Miracle on 34th Street, It's a Wonderful Life, The Santa Clause, or Home Alone 3.
Read a Christmas book. I recommend: Skipping Christmas or The Christmas Box. If you love the Christmas Box, read The Christmas Box Collection. It's a must read!
Plan a visit to the zoo, museum, or a local amusement park and enjoy the Christmas lights and shows.
Do something creative, such as make your own ornaments, attend a painting class, create a themed vision board, or make a bouquet. With the exception of the holiday season decorations, I love to put together a fresh bouquet of flowers for my kitchen table every week.
Attend a Christmas show or musical.
Pamper yourself and schedule a massage, a facial, or manicure.
Watch your favorite football team.
Take a friend out and catch up over coffee or a meal or watch a Christmas show together.
Light a candle, drink some eggnog, or take a bubble bath while relaxing and listening to Christmas music.
Take a family photo for your Christmas newsletter.
Create new Christmas traditions. I know, you probably grew up with family Christmas traditions, but when was the last time you created new Christmas traditions? When my husband and I started our family, we created a few of our own, such as going to the Hotel Del Coronado to see the Christmas tree, Cider Celebration Christmas play at Point Loma Nazarene University, and Garrison Street Christmas lights in Point Loma. (PS I don't know who Chris Spade is.)
Drink a hot cup of cocoa or hot apple cider.
Cozy up by the fireplace with your spouse or a date or grab some friends for a beach bonfire.
Go Christmas light cruising.
Go to the Christmas eve candlelight service.

Christmas is about celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, with our loved ones. "It's not about how much you do, but how much love you put into what you do that counts." - Mother Teresa. So begin today ...

Today is the day to begin to take care of yourself.

Your happiness matters. Your time is valuable. You are more precious than rubies or gold to God and to the people that care about you and your well-being. It’s your responsibility to invest in yourself by taking care of your needs. Don't miss out on the life you could have had - because you didn't prioritize yourself.

Make a Christmas wish list of your ideal Christmas self-care (aka "Loving Yourself!")
Prioritize and make that time sacred.
Set boundaries so that you stay energized, and don't burnout.
Remember to laugh, dance, and have fun!

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you."

2 Thessalonians 3:16

The 25-Days of Self-Care is a list of some of my favorite things to do during the Christmas season.