Self-care

Self-care. The holidays aren’t a restful and relaxing time for everyone. For some – especially those in hospitality – it’s a more challenging time than ever. You’ve got the same pressures everyone else faces, from family and friends to enjoy the holiday spirit with them. And on top of that, your work life is busier than usual.

Does this sound familiar? If so, self-care is even more vital for you during the holidays.

Why is self-care important

Today’s world comes with tremendous pressure to “keep up.” But that isn’t sustainable. Sure, you can push when you need to; we all do. But you can’t run sprint after sprint and hope to keep going at full speed.

You need downtime. It’s just as essential as the air you breathe, the food you eat, and the water you drink. If you don’t give your brain and body the break they need, they will begin to break down. Ignore the warning signs, and you’ll put yourself at risk of burnout and poor health.

Giving yourself the time to recover and recharge isn’t just about feeling better. It helps you to be better, too: a better employee, a better partner, a better parent, and a better friend.

With all its hustle and bustle, the holiday season is an excellent time to incorporate healthy self-care habits into your life.

Self-care habits

Spend time with family and friends …

Humans are wired for connection. Even the most introverted people thrive when they spend time with people they care about. Make a plan for quality time. Put down the phone, and leave social media alone for a bit (don’t worry, it’ll still be there for you later). Be fully present and savor the memories you make together.

… but make time for yourself, too

When work and life are at their busiest, we don’t often have the choice to be truly by ourselves. Even extroverts need time alone. Make time to reflect and to be with your thoughts. Maybe time to engage in a quiet hobby that you enjoy and don’t always have time for. In short, the time to appreciate your own company.

Get moving

Physical activity is good for the body, the heart, and the mind. Go to the gym, hit the streets for a jog, or roll out the yoga mat. It doesn’t matter how you do it but find a way to dial your heart rate up daily.

Make (some) healthy choices

The food and drink we put into our bodies are the fuel our bodies run on. Cleaner fuel means a cleaner engine. This can be a tough one over the holidays. Tables overflowing with delicious foods, like cookies, candies, and other treats, abound. And, of course, alcoholic drinks for those who partake. Treat yourself but aim for a healthy balance.

Don’t sacrifice your sleep

The holidays can also make it tough to get a good night’s sleep, especially when working hours might be longer than usual. Even at the best of times, many of us don’t get enough rest – not even close to the seven or eight hours doctors say we need. There can be severe health consequences. Give your body and brain a chance to reboot and recharge with restful sleep whenever you can.

Practice meditation

Meditation helps build the ‘muscle’ of focused attention, which will help you be more effective in your work and personal life and help you deal better with stress and anxiety. If you’ve never tried it before, check out apps like Insight Timer to help you get started.

Make a self-care plan, and go easy on yourself

Knowing self-care strategies like these is half the battle. The other half is having the discipline to put them into action.

Make a plan. Commit in writing to doing even a few of these things. Keep that plan close at hand and remind yourself every morning about your self-care intentions. And then, go easy on yourself. Part of self-care is self-forgiveness. If you fall into old habits, it’s not the end of your plan. Let it go and get back in the groove.

My holiday wish for you

Take care of yourself this busy holiday season and prepare for a prosperous new year in health and happiness.

Additional Resources

JimNewcomb.com: Recruiting Resources

JimNewcomb.com: Productivity

*JimNewcomb.com: Personal Development

Last week’s blog, in case you missed it: Sales Skills for Recruiters & Hiring Managers.

[Jim Newcomb has been a Senior Recruiting Partner with Goodwin Recruiting since 2013, 2016 Partner of the Year, 2017 Ambassador of the Year, 2018 Extensive Support Coach of the Year, 2020 created Daily Positive Thoughts, and 2021 created JimNewcomb.com website for consistent contribution.]