With Thanksgiving behind us, the holiday season is in full swing and that means that while it is a time full of cheer, it is also a very hectic time as well. The most wonderful time of the year is also the busiest and the most stressful. It’s easy to get caught up in all of the things that need to be done — from buying gifts to traveling to the various events and appointments that go with the season and because it’s so busy, it’s very easy to get overwhelmed.

That’s right, while we are busy making spirits bright for others, we can end up being grinches to ourselves and that’s why self-care during the holiday season is so important. The great thing about self-care is that it doesn’t have to be difficult or even time consuming to give yourself the gift of relaxation and attention this holiday season. Here are just a few simple self-care ideas to get yourself through the season.

First, hydrate. It sounds cliche, but when you’re busy it’s so easy to neglect to drink enough water and not drinking enough water leads to a whole host of issues. Did you know that dehydration can cause headaches? No one has time for that! Additionally, the weather this time of year is colder and that also means that the air is dryer. Making sure you drink enough water also helps keep your skin hydrated as well — which goes a long way to making you look your best. Look good, feel good. It’s a win-win.

Second, streamline what you can. Stressed about gifts? Maybe you don’t have to buy specific items for everyone on your list and you can do gift cards instead — and some places even let you do e-gift cards to make things even easier. The same is true for greeting cards as well. You can send out festive emails with just a few clicks and save yourself a lot of time while still delivering a personal touch.

Third, you can also save yourself some time by scheduling postal pickups right from your house. Going to the post office this time of year can be busy and stressful, but you can cut that stress and time form your packed schedule by setting up pickup. Time saving conveniences are definitely self-care!

Fourth, take a little time for yourself even if it’s just a couple of minutes between other tasks. This one might be my favorite sort of self-care this time of year and it can be as simple as getting a Starbucks to enjoy while driving to run errands. No matter what you have going on there is always time spent between tasks where you are doing something, but you can also use it to take care of yourself. Get a drink you enjoy, listen to a podcast, sing along to your favorite songs — whatever makes you smile and gives you just a moment of respite. You may only have a few minutes between point a and point b, but it’s a perfect time to refresh and recharge.

How do you take time for yourself during the holidays? I’d love to hear your thoughts!