Spa Self-Care: Conquer Holiday Stress and Boost Your Confidence

The holiday season can be a little frantic–holiday parties, gifts to give, children on their winter break–all of your regularly scheduled activities compounded with these once-a-year events. Take a moment out of the melee to practice some much-needed self-care, thereby boosting confidence and self-worth while conquering that holiday stress.

Aspects of Self-Worth

Confidence can look like keeping things orderly and seem like self-worth, but in fact, self-worth is so much more than just confidence. Self-worth includes:

• Self-respect
• Self-forgiveness
• Integrity
• Keeping your promises to yourself
• And a willingness to change and adapt, as you age and grow, but being true to yourself as you do.

When you look at it that way, it’s easy to see why overspending, over-scheduling, and over-stressing can barrage self-worth. Fortunately, you can manage holiday stress and increase your self-worth.

Self-Worth Growth

So how to boost your self-worth (or find your self-worth in the first place)? You can start by taking each of the qualities above, one at a time, and focusing on them. “Keeping your promises to yourself” is a great place to start. If you promised yourself a workout, do it. If you promised yourself you would get a great night’s sleep, go for it.

You can also grow your self-worth by:

• Practicing self-kindness – Some of us speak to ourselves in ways you would never talk to a friend. Be your own friend and increase your positive self-talk.
• Asking for help – Maybe you are the center of all activity in your family or friend group, but it’s time to delegate a little. Accept help, and accept it in the forms in which it comes (allowing others their imperfections as well).
• Letting go of perfection – Similar to asking for and receiving help, take the holidays in stride, allowing for the flow of activity, even if there are bumps in the road. 
• Avoiding comparisons – So you used to fit into the “perfect” holiday dress or your neighbor seems to have the most amazing holiday decorations– whatever the comparisons are (to former self or to others), let them go. 
• Insisting on kindness – Lead by example and ask that family members and others let go of criticisms and speak kindly to one another. Sometimes a low self-worth comes from accepting others’ opinions…instead, focus on kindness and avoid the Debbie Downers who won’t get with the program.
• Schedule some “me” time – Always being the one to give, in an imbalanced way, can leave you drained. Schedule a recharge.

Manage Holiday Stress

All of these suggestions apply to any time of year, but especially during the holiday season, you can practice these qualities, as well as a few specific to the stresses of the holiday season. Primarily those would be keeping a schedule, keeping to your budget, staying organized, and practicing self-care.

With so many demands on your time and your pocketbook, it’s easy to spend and then takes months or more to pay off those lingering holiday bills. Poor eating choices, with extra sugar and alcohol, combined with less exercise, make holiday health potentially disastrous. Instead, name your schedule and your budget in a way that your future self will thank you. You don’t need to wait for January to make self-care a resolution!

Relax with Us

Hit the pause button on a hectic holiday schedule and make a spa day part of your self-care. We can take care of your manicure and makeup application for your holiday party, but why not start with a massage in our beautiful and serene day spa? Make self-care and confidence part of your new holiday routine!

Love,
Gen