Take time for YOU this Christmas
Christmas Past
I want to start by acknowledging those people who don’t look forward to Christmas, for all manner of reasons. Until 6 years ago, Christmas to me was full of tension, expectation and disappointment. A replica of my childhood Christmases.
Now the festive period is much quieter, calmer and more joyful as a result. We have a small family and we don’t have hordes of people in our house. Instead it’s a time to recharge our batteries and spend some time together (when we can get our teenagers out of their bedrooms!).
Some of us, especially, HSPs can find the holiday season overwhelming. Too much noise and too much peopling that is expected of us. You might want to see people AND know that it’s too much. Know your limits and know that it’s okay to say “No”.
Those of us who grew up with an alcoholic parent will have our own memories of Christmases with those parents. Some of you may still spend Christmas with them. You probably have your own strategies to cope and all I would add is to make sure you look after yourself as well as everyone else.At this time of year creatives are forced out of their usual habitat and, as creativity is usually our way of processing our feelings, it can feel like even more pressure when we are cut off from our creative outlet. Try your best to fit some time in just for you to do what you want to do.
If you can’t access your usual creative pursuit, try something different that will allow you to connect inside.There is no wrong or right way to do the holiday season, despite what some people may tell you. I encourage you to bring a bit of YOU into it, a bit of what you want, a bit of what you need and a bit of something different so you can experience a different sort of time this year.
Christmas Present
The minute we walk through the door of our family home, we turn back into the teenager, the 7 year old, the 20 year old, no matter how old we are now. How can you work with knowing that is what happens and bring some of you, as you are now, back into the situation. The key is getting out of your head and into your body, being present. Try these:
deep breathing - down into your belly and back, hold and extend your exhale
time alone
walking/getting outside
time in nature
notice moments of joy, no matter how small or fleeting
dancing/shaking
listening to/playing music that lifts you up
singing something that lifts you up
meditation
yoga/other bodywork
creativity
journalling
Christmas Future
I want to leave you with this - you are important, we all are, and it’s important that we all get something out of the festive period.
It’s your job to do that for yourself.
2023 you will thank you for it.
Wishing you the merriest festive period that is possible for you this year.
