Happy Thanksgiving Week!

Holidays can look very different, depending on your stage of life. 

I am working Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Then, I will take off Thursday morning to see my parents, brother, and grandparents and spend a long weekend with them. I am so excited to see my family!

Whatever your schedule looks like this week, hopefully, you get at least some time off to relax and refresh.

Photo by Alfred Schrock on Unsplash

As much as I love this time of year, I have recognized that I have a hard time living in the moment around the holidays. My mind starts racing, and I can get very emotional knowing that this special time will end.

I decided that that was not how I wanted to live. I want to be present and savor these special moments.

 This is why I want to share self-care tips to help you feel your best and enjoy the present moment around the holidays.

I also know some people find holidays stressful and/or triggering. These practices can help you keep yourself grounded.

Read on to learn how you can practice self-care this Thanksgiving.

For more holiday self-care content, check out this blog post on Tips for Making the Most of the Holiday Season.

How to Practice Self-Care This Thanksgiving

🍂Deep Breathing

Taking slow, intentional, deep breaths can have a lot of positive benefits, from stress reduction to increased calm. If you start feeling overwhelmed during your Thanksgiving plans, try taking some deep breaths to center yourself.

Try Box Breathing to Stay Calm This Thanksgiving

Box Breathing is a breathing exercise where you breathe in for four seconds, hold for four seconds, breathe out for four seconds, and hold for four seconds. This helps me calm down in stressful moments. 

Check out this video to learn how to use Box Breathing when you need to center yourself.

🍂Plan Comforting Activities

Another great way to reduce overwhelm around Thanksgiving is to plan comforting activities for yourself throughout the day. This is especially helpful if Thanksgiving takes you out of your typical routine. 

Comforting Activity Ideas

🍁Do crafts

🍁Color

🍁Journal

🍁Read

🍁Go for a walk

🍁Practice yoga

🍁Do some simple stretches

If you are going out of town this Thanksgiving, make sure to bring your favorite comforting activities with you. I will be bringing my crochet projects and books with me!

These activities can provide a healthy distraction to any potentially overwhelming emotions. Check out my blog post on healthy distractions for more inspiration.

🍂Connect With Your Inner Child

The holiday season is a great opportunity to connect with your inner child. I use this season as a time to tap into nostalgia and appreciate childhood memories. 

A good way to connect with your inner child is to make your childhood favorite Thanksgiving recipe!

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

🍂Connect With Others

Many people spend Thanksgiving with family. If your Thanksgiving plans involve spending time with others, make a point to connect with them. Having meaningful conversations with loved ones can feel so special, especially if you don’t see each other often.

Photo by Megan Watson on Unsplash

🍂Practice Gratitude

It wouldn’t be a Thanksgiving-themed post if I didn’t mention practicing gratitude. In the spirit of the holiday, take note of everything you feel grateful for. Practicing gratitude makes me feel so happy.

Gratitude journaling is my favorite way to practice gratitude. 

Before bed, I like to write down a few things I’m grateful for. You can use gratitude journaling or any reflection/gratitude practice that works for you.

🍂Give Back

Along with practicing gratitude, Thanksgiving is the perfect time to give back. Celebrate everything that you have to be grateful for by giving back in any way you can. 

I decided to spend Wednesday night volunteering at a local homeless shelter’s dinner service. Volunteering is just one way you can give back this Thanksgiving.

Ways to Give Back This Thanksgiving

🍁Volunteer

🍁Donate canned goods to a local food bank

🍁Donate warm clothing 

🍁Run a Turkey Trot

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

🍂Embrace Simple Traditions

Since I was little, I have loved traditions. These small, intentional actions can hold so much joy. To honor this, I have created traditions for myself over the years. 

My Thanksgiving traditions include:

🍁Read Truman Capote’s “The Thanksgiving Visitor”

🍁Watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

🍁Go for a family walk

I mentioned reading Truman Capote’s “The Thanksgiving Visitor” and watching A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving in past Fall Bucket List posts. 

Sadly, I missed out on these traditions the past couple of Thanksgivings (due to my own lack of planning). But this year, I will make these activities happen!

Do you have your own Thanksgiving traditions? If not, maybe it’s time to make some!

I hope this post helps you practice self-care this Thanksgiving. Use these tips to tap into mindfulness and keep yourself grounded throughout your holiday plans. 

Holidays are meant to be a fun opportunity to connect with others. I hope these suggestions allow you to feel more calm and at peace this season.

What are your Thanksgiving plans? Leave a comment to let me know!

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Featured Image: Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash