5 Gifts to Give Yourself This Year
The holiday season is traditionally filled with gifts, and many of us are rushing to finish our shopping or indulging in the post-holiday sales. We want to gift to others and make them feel good. But what about ourselves? Consider a little self-love this holiday.
1. Be Present
Right here, right now. No fear borrowed from an uncertain future. No sorrow brought in from the past. Just this moment right here is all we should concern ourselves with. Life can feel like it’s pulling us in ten directions at once, and yet many of us spend the bulk of our time either distracted over past events or worried about the future.
Giving ourselves the gift of the moment can be priceless. Mindfulness practices can be a good start. Mindful.org explains that being present begins with allowing ourselves to view whatever we’re doing as being equally as important as any goal or problem we need to solve. Meditation and similar practices that assist with grounding may also be helpful. It may take practice, but try to be present, even if it’s for brief moments. This gift alone can alleviate stress and bring us more peace than any purchase ever will.
2. Demand Personal Time
Everyone needs a little “me” time, so why not demand some of your own this holiday season? It may be hard with everyone sort of hanging around all the time but alone time is where we heal and rejuvenate enough to give to those we love most. Don't be afraid to ask for it and if asking fails, demand it. Devote a few hours to a hobby, go out for a walk or a bike ride, or light some candles and spend some time with a great book. Mark it on the calendar like you would any other priority and don't allow any objections. This is about health and wellbeing and you can't be there for them if you're not there for yourself at some point.
3. Get Organized
Organization is the gift that keeps on giving. The process might take a bit of work initially, but it’s amazing how much a person can accomplish when meals have been prepped, the day has been planned and everything’s in its place. Psyche Central recommends creating a fun playlist to get a positive mood going, tackling big projects in tiny increments. This is a big one for avoiding burnout. Choose a room and tackle it. You'll love yourself for this later, we promise.
4. Stick to a Holiday Budget
How many of us have gone a little crazy in the gift-giving, feeling great about it in the moment, only to suffer the pain when credit card bills start to hit? We all want to find that perfect gift, especially when it’s for someone we really care about, but there needs to be a limit. Set a budget, and stick to it. There’s always a way of showing how much you care without breaking the bank. And no amount of money can make someone love us. Of course, we know this but in the moment we want to give them everything because of how much they mean to us. We know. We feel it too. And we don't want to be trite with this. Budgeting is a pain and none of us should have to! We should all be well off enough to give to our loved ones freely. But few of us are. So, budgeting helps us later on. Hug those loved ones a little more and love yourself enough to protect your budget.
5. Let Go of the Past
We can’t move full-force into the future without first letting go of the past. No one among us is perfect. We’ve all made mistakes, and we wouldn’t be human without at least one or two regrets. That’s why letting go is so important. We should probably learn to forgive ourselves and others for being human; we’re all on this crazy ride together. Carrying the past forward is a painful way to go through life. So if only for yourself, try to let some of the burdens go this year. You don't have to call anyone or tell them you forgive them. Just, stop carrying some of the baggage.
Write it out on a piece of paper and burn it in the fireplace. It's gone. Let it go. Move forward into the new year lighter and with a greater sense of purpose.
It’s important to give yourself the same love you’d have for an old friend, including how you treat yourself during the holidays. Show yourself a little extra love this year, it's been a hard one. Be compassionate with your mistakes and those of others. And remember to put yourself on the list. Be there for yourself so you can be there for the people you love.
Copyright 2020, Wellness.com
