Joonbyrd Debrief: Self-Care for the Hectic Holiday Season

Happy Holidays, Or Hectic Holidays…?

Whilst it might be dubbed ‘the most wonderful time of the year’, the holiday season can quickly go from health and happiness to stress and hecticness.

When your diary is filled with social functions, you’re endlessly searching for stocking fillers and you’re doing all you can to keep everyone happy, wellness tends to get put on the shelf until January rolls around.

But to truly feel the JOY this season, you need to give yourself the gift of self-care. It’s been proven that creating a regular self-care ritual impacts both mental and physical health - the perfect basis for the happiest of holidays.

We’ve wrapped up achievable self-care strategies for a calmer festive season below - so all your days are merry and bright.

Understanding Holiday Stress

The pressure to deliver the perfect holiday can result in exhaustion and overwhelm. Whether it's the stress of cooking a lunch that everyone likes, squeezing in quality time with your friends or securing that last minute secret santa gift for a work colleague - the mental load during the holidays can seriously impact your mental health.

And because we’re under so much pressure to be “jolly”, admitting that you are not in the festive spirit can leave you feeling low. But this fraught feeling is so common at this time of year that it’s even been given a name: “holiday burnout”.

Holiday Self-Care Tips

As hard as it can seem to carve out spare time when your to-do list is spinning out of control, planning ahead is key for a stress-free festive season.

As December fast approaches, now is the time to sit down and think through your personal self-care plan. We’ve rounded up some simple self-care tips to help you feel the JOY throughout the holidays and beyond.

1. Commit To What Brings You Cheer: Take time to remind yourself what makes you happy during the holidays, write it down - and make it happen. Refer back to your list as social invitations, work pressure and family parties come your way - and prioritize those that truly bring you JOY.
2. Take A Breather: Build moments of calm into your day: whether meditation, breathing exercises, journaling, soaking in the tub or reading a book - don’t give into the pressure of packing full each hour of your day with holiday activities.
3. Make Time For Movement: It’s easy to let healthy habits fall by the wayside when long, cozy winter lunches are on the menu. But just a short walk or a 30-minute yoga session will clear your mind, and keep the endorphins flowing - setting you up perfectly for socializing.
4. Rest And Restore: Make the most of the evenings drawing in, and stick to a regular sleep schedule - making sure you’re getting ample sleep at night to keep you going in the daytime.
5. Keep Communication Open: Clearly communicating can avoid conflicts - do your best to share your views and voice on things that are important to you. Communicating also means asking for help: make sure you aren’t carrying the complete burden of seasonal tasks when you have willing volunteers around you.
6. Be Bold With Your Boundaries: Use the above to set boundaries for yourself - whether limiting activities, giving yourself a cut-off point to go to bed, or not allowing yourself to get pulled into recurring family patterns.

Enhance Your Self-Care With Winter Wellness Rituals

Our doctor-developed, JOYfully-designed hand and body care will have you feeling festive cheer in no time. We have rounded up our top four seasonal self-care moments just for you:

1. For Hands That Have Wrapped All The Presents: CONFETTI SKY Multitasking Hand Treatment will leave your hands nourished, soft and smooth, whilst JOYful notes of sandalwood, chocolate, coconut, rose and star anise will lift your spirits.
2. For Legs That Have Danced The Night Away: DOUBLE DATE Body Serum Duo is the perfect invigorating remedy for tired limbs. Smooth on DAYDREAMER Firming Body Serum and follow with a stimulating, stress-relieving massage with our amethyst-crafted HEARTWARMER Body Gua Sha Tool.
3. For Bodies That Need A Little Energy Boost: Our MOON SWIM + LITTLE LOVE Duo will soften your skin, sweeten your shower and supercharge your energy levels with deliciously addictive notes of milky vanilla, caramel and roasted coffee bean.
4. For Those That Need Some Uninterrupted, Soothing Self-Care: Try our version of an everything evening shower. Lather on MOON SWIM Hydrating Body Wash as you shower, smooth your skin to perfection with VIOLET HAZE Polishing Body Scrub and take your time sweeping SUNDAY SOFA Rejuvenating Body Butter all over.

The Debrief Digest

Need a speedy self-care sum-up? Here’s the digest on how to have a stress-free holiday season:

1. Whilst we all want to feel the JOY, the holidays can be the season of stress, thanks to social commitments, family pressure and an exhausting to do list. But we think it’s the season to prioritize self-care.
2. Self-care comes in many forms - whether time out, setting boundaries or making time for movement. Take a moment to think about what makes you happy, and schedule it into your holiday plan.
3. Body care is self-care. Taking care of your skin is good for your mental and physical health, and the surest way to ensure a happy holidays.

We wish you a calm, JOYful and healthy holiday season. Subscribe here and discover body care that will boost skin and soul through new years and beyond.