It’s twelve days until Christmas, so you probably don’t have a lot of time for self-care. You might not even have enough time to read this article. So, I’ll make this short for you!

Let’s look at some things you can do to take care of yourself in 5-minutes or less.

1. Put on a cozy sweater or sweatshirt
2. Open the window for a cool breeze
3. Massage or stroke your face
4. Do some jumping jacks
5. Meditate
6. Smile (extra credit if you can make yourself laugh)
7. Wrap one gift
8. Dance
9. Tell yourself or someone else a joke
10. Gaze at the stars
11. Yoga (hold the child’s pose)
12. Take some deep breaths
13. Stare at nature
14. Declutter your nightstand
15. Give yourself a foot massage
16. Put on some makeup
17. List three positive things about yourself
18. Close your eyes letting the sunshine on your face
19. Diffuse your favorite scent
20. Play with your pet
21. Make a list of everything on your mind
22. Do a sudoku or crossword puzzle
23. Hug a loved one
24. Open your blinds
25. Be completely still
26. Listen to your favorite song
27. Apply a face mask
28. Sit in your car in silence
29. Pick a mantra to focus on
30. Step outside or go for a walk
31. Sing your favorite song
32. Mindfully drink your coffee 
33. Eat a piece of dark chocolate
34. Stretch your body
35. Progressively tense and relax your body
36. Apply lotion to your body
37. Doodle or color
38. Look at old pictures

Remember, you deserve to enjoy your holiday. It’s more important to be present with your loved ones than it is to try to make everything perfect. So, please be kind to yourself this holiday season.  

Dr. Jamie

---