5 Self-Care Traditions to Start This Yuletide

Give yourself some holiday love this Yuletide with these simple, soul-nourishing traditions.

Feel invigorated rather than depleted this holiday season by replenishing yourself and tending to your own well-being.

After all, the more positive energy you have, the more you’ll have to share.

These five self-care traditions will recharge your batteries so you have plenty of Yuletide cheer to go around.

1. Yuletide Tradition #1: Replenish Your Loungewear Wardrobe

Perhaps you’ve noticed how many extra-cozy socks, pajamas, robes, and slippers are in the stores at this time of year. While they’re obviously there to appeal to gift shoppers, no one quite knows the colors, textures, and patterns will bring you the most comfort during the darkest, coldest time of the year like you do, do they?

As investments go, treating yourself to the loungewear you will feel best in is a small one, but it will pay huge dividends in the form of comfort, joy, and self-esteem.

Yuletide Tradition #2: Find a Magical Calendar You Love

The Yule season is a great time to take advantage of the veritable jackpot of calendar options to find the one that will bring you, personally, the greatest possible amount of inspiration for the entirety of the forthcoming year. …All for what? 10 bucks? 12? Come on!

Yuletide Tradition #3: Stock Up on Awesome Reading Material

Admittedly, winter is not usually the best time for tennis, hiking, or sun bathing. But who cares about those things when there are books? Whether your heart of hearts feels like reading a fun romance novel, crossing a classic off your list, or deepening your wisdom with a magical how-to, this Yuletide, take the time to gather the books that will make you super stoked for a cozy night in.

Bonus: if you have a library card, this one can cost you nothing but a very modest amount of (enjoyable!) time.

Yuletide Tradition #4: Hoard Holiday Tea and Drink it Frequently

For tea hoarders like me, Winter Solstice means Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride and Dream by the Fire tea. But you know what other blends taste pretty perfect during the Yuletide season? Red Velvet Cuppa Chocolate, Fireside Vanilla Spice, and Candy Cane Lane.

Holiday tea: it’s warm, it’s yummy, it’s healthy, it’s hydrating, and it has zero calories. Plus, tea drinking is a particularly delicious form of meditation. What a great way to care for yourself: mind, body, and spirit.

Yuletide Tradition #5: Diffuse Essential Oils

Winter Solstice nudges us to attend to the ambiance of hearth and home. Make your home smell and feel amazing this Yuletide by diffusing some of the essential oils that smell so right this time of year, such as rosemary, peppermint, orange, clove, cinnamon, pine, and fir needle. (If you have pets, do be sure the oil you choose is safe for them to be around.)

You’ll see: when you take the time to show yourself some extra love this Yuletide, your cup of holiday cheer will runneth over.

…Did you start one or all of these Yuletide traditions? How did it go?