Gauge Your Frazzle-Meter: Practical Self-Care for the Holidays

Happy holidays! If you’re reading this on the day that this blog comes out, you’re likely on the verge of a celebration. My family kicked off our Hanukkah festivities a few days ago. Today is Christmas Eve. Kwanzaa is starting up soon. And the New Year is just around the corner!

While we may all celebrate a little differently, our holidays have one big thing in common: They’re likely to be equal parts fun and stressful.

Now, if you’re not feeling stressed out at all in the midst of all the wintertime festivities . . . Great! I’m super happy for you. :) 

For many of us though (shout out to all the introverts and ambiverts out there!), holiday celebrations can wear us a little thin. If that’s you, you’re not alone in feeling less than holly-jolly . . . and there’s no shame in admitting that.

So today, I wanted to remind you to take a moment to Gauge Your Frazzle-Meter.

What exactly do I mean by that? Gauge Your Frazzle-Meter just means, Take a moment to check in with yourself. Ask yourself:

• Am I feeling tired?

• Do I need a moment of quiet time?

• Do I have some bottled up feelings that I might need to share with a friend?

• Am I hydrated?

• Does my body feel stiff or uncomfortable?

If you answer YES to any of those questions, don’t feel bad about pulling yourself away from the festivities for a moment to address your needs. Go for a walk. Swap out your eggnog for some water. Heck—lock yourself in the bathroom for five minutes of peace and quiet if that’s what it takes. No judgment!

You can Gauge Your Frazzle-Meter on non-holidays, too!

Let’s be honest—stress doesn’t go away when the holidays end. As we head into the new year, I challenge you to commit to being more conscientious about your practical self-care. Reflect on the past year and—again—ask yourself:

• Did I spend more time feeling relaxed or frustrated this year?

• Did I successfully budget enough me-time?

• Did I spend enough time with my family? 

• Did I spend enough time with my friends?

• Did I designate enough time for hobbies or passion-projects?

• Is there anything BIG I wish I’d have done differently?

You can make changes to your lifestyle at any time of year, of course—but the dawn of a new year (and in this case, a new decade!) presents a great opportunity to really think about the choices we’ve made over the past 12 months, and make a conscious decision about whether we need to approach some parts of our lives a little differently. 

With that, I hope you’re having as close to a stress-free holiday as possible, and that you’re planning to spend lots of time recharging your batteries as we round out 2019. 

If you’re looking for an extra boost in your accountability and motivation in the coming year, I want to personally invite you to check out my VIP Community: Thrive. Thrive is a membership community full of women who “get it” and experts who want to help you succeed with every component of your health. CLICK HERE to learn more about this opportunity!