With the holidays right around the corner many of us are thinking of others and where to spend the holidays, which can become stressful.
With the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it’s easy to forget about yourself. It's important to still take time out for yourself and not let self-care fall to the wayside.
Even without the holiday season, between work, relationships, kids and family, many tend to let themselves fall to the bottom of the priority list, if they place themselves on the list at all.
Self-care is an important tool in taking care of ourselves and creating healthy habits.
“It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make your happiness a priority. It’s necessary.”
– Mandy Hale
Why Massage Should be Added to Your Self-Care Routine
Massage has many benefits including stress relief, better sleep and pain relief (AMTA, n.d). If you are experiencing chronic pain, massage can aid in your care to reduce pain or maintain where you are mentally. On top of pain relief, a massage feels great in general! It also allows you to set aside time just for you where you aren’t doing anything for anyone else.
Take care of your body and your body will take care of you!
What’s in My Self-Care Routine?
In addition to getting a massage, I also see a therapist weekly and take a weekly lyra (aerial hoop) class. Taking the lyra class has been a new development in my self-care routine and has been great for my mental health.
I began classes about a month ago, making it the first hobby (that isn’t Netflix/Hulu or shopping) that I have had in years. It has been a great way to prioritize myself and do something that I really enjoy.
With only a month and a half left of 2021, I challenge you to practice self-care and prioritize yourself, whether it’s scheduling a regular massage, starting a hobby, seeing a therapist, reading, working out, making sure you’re drinking enough water or simply saying no and enforcing your boundaries this holiday season.