Make Yourself a Priority

Everyone’s busy this holiday season. Between travel plans, gift giving, and meal preparation, it’s no wonder that the most wonderful time of the year is also one of the most stressful times of the year. Don’t let the holiday stress get you down! Instead, make yourself a priority and avoid feeling overwhelmed using a DBT skill called Self Soothe.

It’s important to prioritize your health and practice self care. Think of it like the emergency instructions on a flight. The flight crew always tells you that in case of an emergency, put your oxygen mask on first; then, you can help your child with their mask. You can’t aid your child in this situation unless you are breathing properly and fit to do so.

The same approach applies to everyday life. You can’t help others and make the holidays an enjoyable experience for everyone unless you’re healthy enough to do so. It’s important to incorporate this philosophy of taking care of yourself first into your daily life before an emergency or crisis arises.

A great way to apply this thinking is by practicing the Self Soothe skill. Self Soothe encourages you to care for yourself and improve your mood through your senses. You can comfort yourself, giving yourself the mental health break that you deserve this holiday season.

Here are some ideas for self-soothing with each of your senses:
 

• Sight –
  Watch a classic holiday movie, look through pictures of friends and family, or draw the view out your window in a sketchbook. Go to a coffee shop and people watch. Admire a beautiful sunset while you’re on vacation. If it’s a white Christmas, you could even sit by the window and watch the snow fall!
  

• Sound –
  Listen to your favorite playlist or sing a holiday song. Call up a friend or family member who you’ve been meaning to catch up with. Pay attention to the sounds in nature, like bird chirping or the wind rustling leftover leaves. The goal is to be attentive to any sounds and focus on just those sounds. Tune out your worries and tune into the sounds around you.
  

• Taste –
  Treat yourself to a delicious beverage, like a nice cup of tea or a hot cup of cocoa. Enjoy a bite of chocolate and savor the flavor. Bake some brownies, chocolate chip cookies, or gingerbread men—whatever you’re in the mood for. No matter what you’d like to taste, remember to eat mindfully and don’t overdo it!
  

• Touch –
  Snuggle up with a family pet (if they let you!), or get cozy under a soft, warm blanket on a chilly day. Take a hot shower or indulge in a warm bath with essential oils. Ask for a hug from someone you care about.
  

• Smell –
  Bake cookies and enjoy the fresh chocolate scent that fills your kitchen. Or, light a scented candle. Some calming scents include lavender, chamomile and peppermint. You could also boil spices of cinnamon, try aromatherapy, or make use of some nice smelling scented lotion.
  

• Movement –
  Relieve tension through morning stretches or an evening walk. Stretching and movement loosen your muscles; when you relax your body, you relax your mind too! You could also do yoga, either at home on your own or with a class of yogis. Another idea is to put on your favorite song and dance like nobody’s watching.
  

In these hectic times, remember to take small moments to honor and care for yourself. Make yourself a priority and make self-care a daily practice by using the Self Soothe skill. It’s easy to self soothe, whether you’re celebrating the holidays at home or away. It’s important to comfort and nurture yourself, so that you can then help others enjoy the holiday season too. And in the event that emergency does happen, you’ll be able to access this skill and better.