Welp, it’s officially December, which means that everyone is gearing down & prepping for the holidays. Meanwhile, I have been running at full speed. Yes, we are in the midst of the busiest weeks of the year in the retail world. I’ve been mentally & physically preparing myself for a while now for what I can only compare to something out of the elevator in “The Shining”.

You see, I’ve never participated in Black Friday, Boxing Day, or any kind of blowout sale. From the little experience I’ve had with sales, I’ve learned that I’d rather pay $10 more for a better selection & better service. If you have the time, skill, energy & patience to handle that madness & those crowds, then good on ya. But I know that I always end up sweaty, frustrated & stuck with things I bought in the spur of the moment because they were marked in red. Call me crazy, but I’m not going to wrestle you over TV in the middle of Best Buy.

Anyways, despite my personal shopping preferences, this year I have no where to hide…because I will be working my first holidays. However, like any other busy time in my life, I’ve learned that the key to survival is self-care. So, because the holidays can be a busy time for everyone, I thought I would share how I plan to survive the holidays by making some time for self-care.

*Although these methods are not professionally approved, they did get me through Black Friday & have therefore been real world tested. (Hannah’s were fazed & rattled, but not harmed in the testing of these methods)

1. Yoga

Yoga is the ultimate stress release. I’ve found though that any form of exercise is a good way to clear your mind & rejuvenate your body. Plus, it gives me the chance to stretch out anything that has been overworked or started to feel sore throughout the week. Being on your feet 9 hours a day in trendy shoes is not for the faint of heart, & even the toughest toes out there need a break.

2. Caffeine

Although coffee is always my go-to, I’ve found a healthier alternative to the good stuff. Yerba Mate (in particular the mint flavour) is my new drink of choice when I’m feeling that mid-day slump. It’s refreshing & I don’t have to worry about not being able to sleep later. Also the bottle is pretty & I feel cool drinking it.

3. Eating Well

I know when I’m stressed out & tired, the last thing I want to do is make dinner. However, nothing makes you feel more sluggish than a stomach full of fast food. I’ve found that with a balanced diet I am more energized & stay fuller, longer. But, I’ll admit, some chocolate here & there is a must.

4. Vitamins

It took me almost passing out in the stairwell of my dorm freshman year to realize that I had an iron deficiency & since then, I been paying a lot more attention to my vitamin intake. I was feeling tired all the time, no matter how much sleep I got, but in my case, some iron pills in the morning with breakfast fixed what coffee couldn’t. Besides, I don’t know if any of you have tried those gummy multi vitamins, but they’re pretty good. Plus, a couple doses of a super vitamin can stop that cold you feel starting in your throat!

5. Sleep On It

Speaking of sleep, we all need it…it’s actually one of my favourite past times. However, I’ve found that not getting enough or changing up my sleep schedule too much means that I need an extra caffeine boost to make it through the day. Now I’m not really complaining because I love coffee, but if I learned anything in college it is that caffeine is not at all a substitute for sleep.

6. Treat Yourself

Whether it’s a favourite book, binge watching a show, or just simply eating some chocolate, we all need to treat ourselves once in a while. For me, it is the recent discovery of Gilmore Girls. Okay, okay, I know I’m late to the game & I may be riding the band wagon, but I don’t care. I tried to start watching the show a while ago, but was overwhelmed by how fast Alexis Bledel & Lauren Graham talk. I mean, I’m not the only one who finds it difficult to keep up with, right? Anyways, I gave it another shot after a recommendation from Jimmy Fallon, (cause he is adorable & I want to feel more connected to him in a weird way) & have been watching ever since. There’s nothing better than putting my feet up & watching Gilmore Girls over something from Whole Foods on my lunch break. Life hasn’t been the same since I downloaded the Netflix app on my phone…

How are you surviving the holidays?