Permission to Self-Care this Christmas

Rosie Marsh

3 min read

As this is being shared on Christmas Eve, many of us are already in the thick of the festive season. The build-up, the day itself, and that strange void between Christmas and New Year when no-one knows what day it is. Routines are likely out of the window and emotions sit close to the surface.

Christmas can be a time of love and joy – but it can also feel overwhelming, emotionally layered, and far too busy. Expectations pile up, family dynamics resurface, and the usual anchors that keep us steady can wobble.

For many people, this time of year also brings grief — whether from losing someone, navigating separation or relationship changes. All of these are real, human responses to a season that carries so much emotional weight and high expectations.

Through years of working in the wellbeing industry, I've come to understand that caring for ourselves at this time of year isn’t another thing to add to the list. It’s essential and we need to consciously give ourselves permission — permission to slow down, to soften, and to respond to what we actually need, rather than what we think we should be doing.

Below is a wellbeing check-in — an invitation to care for your mind, body, and soul through the whole festive period in a way that feels realistic, compassionate, and supportive.

A Moment of Support

If you’re already feeling stretched, emotional, or overwhelmed, one of the kindest things you can do is begin with support, not effort.

It needn't take long to down-regulate our nervous systems, so I'm linking you to my free three-minute calming video on my website, designed for moments when you don't have long but you know you need to pause, breathe, and settle. There’s no sign-up and no pressure — just a short guided practice you can return to anytime.

👉🏼 Watch it here: https://www.mindbodysoulwellbeing.co.uk/free-content?wix-vod-video-id=6a7292105b1f44d1ab09fa2cf52396fc&wix-vod-comp-id=comp-mha9s0qb

Later in the season, when the overwhelm begins to ease, you can also look out for my free Detox Yoga video — a practice designed to release built-up tension, support your system after the busyness of Christmas, and offer a little detoxing for the festive over-indulgence. Look out for the email post in a few days time.

Noticing When Things Feel Like a Lot

Stress doesn’t always announce itself loudly, particularly at the beginning, when it tends to show up quietly through the body, breath and mood.

Look out for:

• Feeling overwhelmed by plans, expectations, or mental to-do lists

• Restless sleep or over-tiredness

• Increased sensitivity and irritability

• A foggy mind, low energy, or a sense of being “maxed out”

These are signals from your nervous system asking for a little more self-care. When we notice them early, we can respond with kindness rather than pushing through until we’re depleted.

Boundaries as an Act of Self-Care

The festive season has a way of blurring boundaries, especially with family expectations.

Protecting our energy is easier than you might think:

• Saying not this time to things that feel draining

• Taking breaks from social media and comparison

• Being honest with yourself and others about what you can manage

You really don't have to attend everything and you definitely don't have to carry everything on your own. Choosing fewer, more meaningful moments is a great way of respecting your wellbeing, without withdrawing.

Small Anchors of Calm

Calm doesn’t require long practices or perfect routines. It’s built through small, steady moments.

Below are some simple examples of how you can bring calm:

• Conscious breathing — a few slow breaths, feeling your feet on the floor and letting go of tension as you exhale

• A quiet moment — a few minutes to yourself (even just hiding out in the bathroom to breathe) can make such a difference to overwhelm

• Starting the day kindly — instead of rushing into the day, take a moment to breathe and offer calm to your nervous system by sweeping the hands up and over the forehead, the top of the head, down the back of the head to the neck and shoulders. Finish by placing your hands over your heart and taking 3 calming breaths.

These moments are so important in helping to regulate the nervous system and remind the body it’s safe enough to soften, even when life feels emotionally charged.

Letting Go of Perfect

A lot of festive stress comes from how we think Christmas should look. Christmas isn't about perfection and it's not about presents — it's unlikely that someone will remember the gift you spent hours choosing over the time you spent together from one year to the next. Presence, not presents!

This is especially true if grief, separation, or family change makes the season feel harder than it used to. So please remember:

It’s okay if this year is quieter.

It’s okay if traditions change.

It’s okay if rest becomes a priority.

Self-care doesn’t have to be big or perfect. It really is as simple as a moment's space, a pause, a breath, a gentle stretch out, a walk outside, or allowing yourself to take the time you need with the support you deserve.

Be kind to yourself this Christmas 🤍