Giving to Yourself This Holiday Season

The stress of preparing for visiting relatives, decorating the house, finding the perfect gift for others, and cooking scrumptious holiday meals can quickly take a toll on the body. However, women are often reluctant to take the time to re-energize or focus on themselves.

Let’s face it, the holiday season may be a time filled with joy and merriment but if the season usually leaves you feeling run down like you need a holiday from the holidays, then it’s time to learn to give a little something to yourself.

Women’s health expert Belinda Wurn states, “Women are generally nurturers and tend to focus on serving the needs of others. This can have negative consequences for women if they don’t also make time for themselves to relax and de-stress.”

Taking time for oneself can be especially difficult when a woman feels like she doesn’t deserve it. Many women are uncomfortable acknowledging their own accomplishments and strengths. Yet, without taking the time to recognize the positives, they often only see the negatives.

Sydney, who struggled with infertility, explained that all she could think was, “This part of my body isn’t working, and I hate it.” Her feelings of guilt and self-loathing were further compounded every holiday season when the focus turned to families full of young children.

Wurn, who is currently co-authoring a book about female infertility, explains, “The first step to regaining health and fertility is to recognize everything your body endures on a daily basis. Women put incredible loads on their bodies without even realizing it, creating a lot of stress- especially during the holiday season. The body functions as a whole and if one area is overworked, another part often compensates.”

Many women recognize the stress the holidays bring. Yet even though they know they deserve some special time, they still deny themselves because they feel overwhelmed with all the tasks at hand. According to Wurn, that’s when it’s time to delegate duties to family and friends. Instead of baking that pie, ask a friend if they can bring a pie to dinner. And remember that you don’t have to attend every party or help every neighbor or family member who asks. Learn to say, “I’d really love to but my plate is full.” If you’re still having difficulty setting aside time, schedule time for yourself on your own calendar.

Wurn recommends women take the opportunity this season for a self-treat. A self-treat can be as simple as a bubble bath, massage or yoga, or time set aside to read a good book. “When women start to give back to their bodies,” Wurn explains, “It sets in motion a path for better health. Once they are reinvigorated, women are able to offer so much more to others.”

Nicole, who also struggled with infertility, took Wurn’s suggestions to heart and focused on giving back to her body. Nicole stated, “I had to learn to trust my own instincts and do what I felt was best for my body.” Nicole incorporated numerous changes into her life including exercising, eating healthy, and taking time to relax. After four years of struggling with unexplained infertility, Nicole became naturally pregnant and gave birth to a baby girl.

Wurn explains, “Women can take this stressful time of year and make it the beginning of something great.”

Go ahead and buy yourself that stocking stuffer this season—bubble bath oil, a book, or a certificate for a massage or yoga class all fit easily into a stocking.