Welcome back to the blog! I hope you've been enjoying the start of your December. But also, if this time of year has been more difficult for you, that is okay! As much as I love the winter because of all the cozy and festive moments, I feel like colder weather can bring lower moods sometimes and just a change in my energy on the daily. So, if you've been feeling those feelings as well, know that you're not alone. I wanted to take some time to write a blog post about navigating feelings of anxiousness this winter and this holiday season.
All we see when we scroll on social media is the highlight reel of people's lives during the holiday season and all the good moments, making it challenging to embrace the low moments. And I want to preface this post by saying it is expected to feel all the emotions during this time of year. Just because it's the holidays doesn't mean you always have to be happy and in a good mood. I've been feeling some more anxiety lately, and if you've been feeling it too, know that I understand what you're going through. Going through large amounts of anxiety is ultimately what led me to start my blog, Self-Care by Esha, and create a place where you can learn and be inspired to take good care of yourself and feel you're best.
This winter, I've been focusing on finding ways to self-care that help me feel calmer and more grounded daily. These little things I do for myself bring me joy and help fill up my cup when I feel that my mental battery is drained or I feel low energy. So, read below for a few of my suggestions that may help you feel better when you're anxious or stressed.
1) Go for walks and listen to your feel-good music
I've been leaning into long walks this winter, even when it's freezing out! Nothing compares to helping ourselves feel calmer than getting fresh air and being outside. I know it can be so hard to get outside when it's so chilly out, but trust me, even if you take a 5-minute stroll and listen to your favorite music, maybe some holiday Michael Bublé or maybe some Taylor Swift, you'll feel much more relieved. There's something so affirming about being outside for me and going for a walk that reminds me everything will be okay.
2) Take more mindful breaks from school or work
I know for many, a lot of anxiety comes from working or school and all the work we have to do in a day. I know; that can be the case for me sometimes. Taking breaks is critically important, though, and I am getting better at taking more breaks from work daily. Whether it be 5 or 10 minutes to get up from the desk and get some water or step outside, when stress builds up because of work, it can be beneficial to schedule short periods in the day to decompress. Not only does this help bring anxiety down, but it helps us remember that there's more to us and our lives than what is consuming our minds in the current period. So, I encourage you to take regular breaks for your mental health this week.
3) Read a comfort novel
One of my favorite things to do to unwind and feel more relaxed when I've had a stressful day, and even just for fun, is to read a comfort novel. I always have a new book to read because reading has become one of my favorite ways to decompress. I love rom-com novels, and the girls that get it get it!! I love reading a chill, funny book that brings me comfort and good energy because when I'm anxious, that's just sometimes what I need. I love reading a few chapters at the end of the day before I go to bed to help clear my mind. One of my favorite comfort rom-com authors is Emily Henry (I literally love any book by her!!) I'm currently reading Funny Story by her, and I love it!
4) Plan more things to look forward to
Something that's been helping me deal with anxiety is just planning more things to look forward to every week. Sometimes, a lot of anxiety can make us focus on things that take away our happiness by focusing heavily on the future. That's why I love planning more activities every week; it reminds me that there are always good things to come. Even though it might be hard to make plans when stressed, it feels so good to do the things that generate joy for us. So, plan some activities to look forward to this week! This can be as small as taking a walk with a friend, getting coffee, seeing the Christmas lights on the weekend, grabbing dinner, going to a movie, or visiting family.
5) Engage in a creative project
I've shared a lot about this because I genuinely feel like finding a passion project and a creative outlet is an excellent way to de-stress and boost our serotonin. One of my passion projects is blogging, which I try to do a few times a week! What I love about creative projects and hobbies is that they let us center our energy on one thing, whether free-writing, designing a mood board or pinterest board, reading blogs or magazines, getting creative with gift wrapping or even drawing; we're so focused on our creativity. I love engaging in creative projects to de-stress; it gets my mind off things and makes me happy. And even if you're not super creative, finding little projects that spark joy will be worth it!
I hope you find some self-care practices helpful if you feel anxious during this time of year. Remember to take good care of yourself and know that nothing is more important than your mental health. This post is truly a testament to the fact that self-care doesn't always have to be big and grand to have a significant impact; sometimes, the little practices are indeed the most impactful. Happy holidays, and here's to a cozy and self-care-filled rest of the week!
Xo,
Esha
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