Setting Boundaries over the Holidays is Important Self-Care

The holiday season is fast approaching, as are the expectations, obligations, and the cascading to-do list. For many, the holiday season is one of stress and overwhelm, but it doesn’t have to be. Setting boundaries during this time can be an essential part of self care, and maintaining your mental health.


Know yourself

• How do you want to feel during the holidays, and equally how do you not want to feel?
  
• What is important to you about this season and what isn’t?
  
• How much money can you afford to spend?
  
• What do you need to do to maintain your health and wellbeing?
  

Next, think back to all the years gone by. What traditions left you energized, and which felt like obligations? If your goal is to actually enjoy the holiday season in its entirety, you need to set some personal boundaries around what you are and are not willing to do.

Permission granted

You, and you alone, get to decide how you celebrate the holidays. You have permission to:

• Say “no, thank you” without having to justify yourself.
  
• Celebrate the religious aspects of the season, or not. Either way, you choose your belief systems, and get to be guilt free about it.
  
• Decline office holiday parties if the thought of spending one more moment with your co-workers is just too much.
  
• Pick and choose the family events you attend, because is if Great Aunt Mary is going to criticize your life choices AGAIN this year, you get to choose to spend time with people who are more supportive.
  
• Prepare a meal that will make your mouth water. It can be a traditional turkey, or it could be a delightfully creamy carbonara. You get to decide.
  
• Say yes to dessert (and go back for more), but also to say “no, thank you” without having to explain either choice.
  
• Live within your financial means. Consider how much you are willing to spend on gifts (if anything), and stick to your budget.
  
• Keep up with your daily self care, even if that means taking time out from the peak of festivities do go for a run, do some yoga, or simply find a quiet place to take some time for yourself.
  

Consider this permission to design your holiday season around what truly brings you joy, rather than what “should” bring you joy. You get to say “no”, you get to say “yes”, and you also get to change your mind.

Here’s to planning a holiday season that lights you up! It IS possible, you just need to choose it!

Let us know on Instagram @TruehopeCanada what boundaries you’ll be setting this season to make it a truly joyous one.