Indulging in Me Time
No, this isn't about doing a binge watch, flanked by rocky road and a box of pizza. It's about taking, even just a few moments, daily, to engage in what makes you feel whole or partaking in your passions. It can be as simple as a few minutes journaling about getting through a hard day or as challenging as running another 15 miles in preparation for a marathon. It can even be zoning out to your favorite album or tracks as you decorate. Self-care among helping professionals—including those working in medicine, counseling, nursing, social work, counseling and education—was shown to enhance their well-being and enhance satisfaction (Tan, Sinnasamy, & Zakaria, 2023). One step in the self-care path is to think about your favorite activities, your biggest dreams, and honor these—give time to them—each day. Make time for "me" enables you to give more to them. Practicing Gratitude
- Express thanks while pledging to help each other forward
- Pass on a generosity to someone else in need
- Apply the gift toward a long-held dream
- Appreciate where you are, and strategize toward the next step
- Savor that the most precious gift you have is the opportunity to go further
Giving to Yourself During the Holidays
- Always have your earbuds on hand and a customized playlist, holiday or non-holiday themed, as you run errands
- Pick up a little something for yourself each time you're on a gift run
- At the end of each day, have a (healthy) way to decompress (work out for a half hour, drink your favorite tea, meditate on how lucky you are, etc.)
- Touch base daily with your nearest and dearest, and reiterate how important they are
- Think about how a new, and better, you will spend next holiday season
Targeting Your Dreams
need to get to the next level? What have you always wanted to do, but thought there's no way you could? Now, start working on it. Consider the resources you need. Reach out to the right contacts, or make new ones. List the objectives you need to accomplish to fulfill the overarching goals. Take the time out—even if it's those few moments of daily "me time"—to start making plans and begin actualizing them. Here are some steps you can take:- Log your five top goals for the coming year, with three objectives to track progress (put reminders on your phone for scheduled deadlines)
- Build an action team—comprised of professional acquaintances and contacts that will help you succeed (or identify those who are still need)—and a support team who will help you navigate challenges and maintain morale
- Keep adding to your network and contacts as you go to build a broader perspective and always opt for the best ways
- Even as you celebrate the victories, stay vigilant—for both opportunities and threats—to ensure you're leveraging all the resources
- Keep reminding yourself—even several times daily—about why this is important, and how it will change your life
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3 Comments
Alyssa Shaw
You need money to also get stuff for yourself. What's the best way to get deal?
Seminal Wellness Team
This is such a great question. Today--December 2, 2024--is Cyber Monday; so, bigger and smaller retailers have great deals till midnight, often with free shipping. Try some new options too. You know how you can get 10 to 15% off your first order, especially when you sign up for texts. And, if there's something you really want--but, it's a bit outside your budget--leave it in your cart. The retailer will often send you a discount to incentivize you to buy. But, you're fine even if you don't get all your shopping done today. The coupon/discount browser extensions can help you get savings on top of savings. Honey, Capital One, and Rakuten are a few. Flipp also allows you to browse circular and flyers for great deals. Install the apps when available too. And, the browser extensions, along with the "cart tricks," will get you through all year round. Thanks again for the question. Happy Holidays!
Ju-won Choi
How do you let them know you need time to yourself during the holidays?
Seminal Wellness Team
Yeah, telling friends and family you have to miss the dinner or the party is hard at any time, especially during the holidays. But, it's all in how you say it. Say something like, "I won't make that one, but we can hang out next time. Thanks buddy." Just carve out a week or two when you have your time--and maximize it. "Maximizing it" can mean time to yourself; time with the people who matter most; or time for personal projects you need to catch up on (or start). You want to make sure that those in your circle understand you're not "off-the-grid" forever; it just for a certain period of time. Those who respect this or the ones you want to keep close. And, stand firm, even if they try to pressure you. Thanks for the question. Happy Holidays!
Gia Carlos
What's the best thing I could give myself for the holidays?
Seminal Wellness Team
If you have some extra cash (or can take advantage of one of those buy now-pay later plans) go ahead and splurge on what you've been eyeing. But, really, the best you can do is take time--even if just a few minutes--to think about your dreams, what you truly want to do. Right after, schedule time to action plan, with timeframes and deadlines, toward actualizing them. There are often spillover effects to being engaged and motivated, including for your health and overall well-being. You take care of everyone else. Take care of yourself too.