We know holidays usually cause stress. Add in the fact that we are in the middle of a pandemic, and our stress levels are even higher. We may have to miss time with our families, or our holiday gatherings may look different. Today, Alex shares some of her favorite self-care tips during the holiday season, to help you during this uncertain holiday season.
1) Meditation- At the beginning of 2020, I had to find something to help my migraines. After trying natural diet remedies and several doses of Excedrin, I leaned on meditation. My sleep has greatly improved, since I don’t find myself getting lost in my thoughts as much as I did. Meditation has taught me how to focus on my breath. If my thoughts takeover, guided meditation brings my focus back to my breath. Most recently, I’ve been using the following link: https://youtu.be/FGO8IWiusJo
2) Yoga- I enjoy yoga in the form of stretches right after meditation or right before my run. It helps me feel ready for the day. I enjoy a guided at-home yoga video https://youtu.be/X3-gKPNyrTA
3) Reading- When I am finally able to get out of the social media rabbit hole, I’ll open my current read, The Boy from the Woods by Harlen Coben. I love suspenseful stories and thus far, this book has captured my interest. I rented the eBook from my local library and enjoyed it so much that I bought a paperback copy to finish reading. (Full disclosure, I also had to buy it because my rental was due. I’m a slow reader.)
I hope you have a peaceful holiday!
- Alex Mata, MA, LPC Associate, NCC
Supervised by Sarah E. Carlson, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S, E-RYT 200, YACEP
If you or someone in your family needs extra support during this holiday season, please reach out to Alex at (214) 989- 6627, or alexmatamightyoaks@gmail.com.