putting the “self” back in self-care

this week is all about self-care during the holidays.  we’ve focused on managing grief during the holidays, and the self-care involved in selflessness.  today, we put the “self” back in self-care. 

there can be a tendency during the holidays to lose ourself.  when we’re totally focused on the needs of others, we need to explicitly remind ourselves about our own needs and their care. 

for all of you mothers out there, you know that the holiday season can be overwhelming to say the least.  whether it’s a school function, play, or party, when you add holiday gift buying, a husband and dog to boot, the question remains:  where do you fit in?  (and if you’re a professional, the same is true in general albeit in different ways.)

carve out time for yourself

this year, let’s try things a little different.  let’s find time to focus on you.  a day here.  and another one there.  

play hooky

earlier this fall, i wrote about taking a day to play hooky. it was one of our most viewed posts.  i’m guessing that’s because the message resonated with some of you.  i’ll repeat what i said there here. 

when was the last time you played hooky and took a day for yourself? went to a movie? got a massage or a mani-pedi? called up your daughter for an impromptu lunch? self-care is one of the most important things and something we’re all guilty of not investing enough in ourselves [sic].

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what does a day playing hooky look like for you?  it could be an afternoon matinee.  it could trip to the spa.  a manicure.  a pedicure.  it could be any and all of those things.  the important thing is that it’s something you want, nothing something other’s want or want  for you. 

and a money

budgets can be tight during the holidays.  from Thanksgiving to New Year’s it’s go, go, go and spend, spend, spend.  i get it.  believe me.  but one thing to keep in mind, it’s OK for some of that budget to be allocated to and for you. 

shopping day

part of self-care is looking good.  that’s something my mother repeated my entire life.  and if you’re a follower of this blog, you’re interested in fashion at least in part.  

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is this holiday season the season to revamp your wardrobe?  maybe it is.  maybe it isn’t.  but it might the year to invest in a new holiday outfit.  this year, allow yourself to be the best you.  and part of that is both looking and feelinggood.  if that means a trip to Talbots or Ann Taylor then that’s what it means.  

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give yourself the permission this year to buy a present for yourself in addition to everyone else.   

it’s ok to do you 

as we get older, a focus on ourselves may take new and different forms.  things we placed importance in our youth fallaway, and they’re replaced by new priorities and goals. 

health & wellness

over the past few years, many of you have followed me on my health & wellness journey.  at the risk of beating a dead horse, we all know how difficult it can be to stay healthy during the holiday season.  force of will breaks down in the face of holiday cookies.  the struggle. is. real. 

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but maybe this year is the year we change our relationship to food in general.  maybe it’s not a cookie here and there that’s at issue.  maybe we need a rethink of our daily diet in general.  just as self-care can be about looking good, feeling good is even more important.  

no matter how old you are; no matter where you are in your life; and no matter what your obligations are this holiday season there is nothing more important than your health and wellness.  what good can you be to others, let alone yourself, if you don’t feel good.  any investment in you begins with an investment in your health. 

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in case you missed it 

this week we’ve talked self-care during the holidays.  we emphasized a focus on the self. i gave you some practical tips to carve out time, space, and money to during a season in which it is natural to lose oneself. 

yesterday, we talked about putting other’s first as a form of self-care.  on Monday, we talked about managing grief during the holidays. make sure to check out those posts if you haven’t already.  

yesterday, i also gave a rundown of my YouTube channel.  we’re making a slight change to our fashion flash series starting today.  instead of posting individual fashion flash entries Monday through Wednesday, we’re rolling out an aggregated one every Wednesday.  make sure to check out today’s below.

to subscribe to my YouTube channel, either click the link to the left and follow step (iii) to the right; or i) click on any video below, ii) click on the “YouTube” logo to redirect to YouTube’s website, iii) and in the bottom right-hand corner below that video, click the “Subscribe” button.

Beth Djalali

is the Founder and CEO of Style at a Certain Age. She writes Sundays-Fridays on all topics ranging from fashion, health, wellness, home design and more.

She’s 65, 5’8, and size 8.

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