AAs we move into the holiday hustle and bustle, chances are you don’t associate the words “free time” with this season of the year. With busy days filled with shopping for gifts, preparing for parties, and spending time with loved ones (not to mention your current 9 to 5 job), it’s easy to feel like you don’t have a minute to spare. free for downtime.

And while you may not feel like you have a lot of free time right now, taking time for yourself is essential (to avoid burnout) and possible, if you embrace the right state of mind. ‘spirit.

“Practicing more self-care is a declaration of love, priority and commitment to yourself,” says the meditation and mindfulness coach. Josephine Atluri. “You count. You are worthy of taking a ‘time out’ …. More self-care gives your body a chance to relax your fight-or-flight response, which triggers relentless stress that can be very severe. detrimental to the physical and emotional well-being of a person. “

“You count. You are worthy of taking a ‘time-in’.

So how exactly do you make this happen? Atluri shares her tips on how to take time to take care of yourself while on vacation when you feel like you don’t have time, plus three of her favorite quick and easy self-care practices that you can all use to do. to do KneippPersonal care essentials for that extra spa feel.

Adding these practices and products to your routine will feel like a gift to yourself during a season of giving to others (Atluri says put yourself first, remember that?). So go ahead, put yourself on that list of gifts you hurry to check off and scroll down to find the self-care practice that’s right for you.

Read on for some practical techniques that will help you find time to take care of yourself during the holidays this season.

1. Take a break and take a few deep breaths

Even a few minutes of deep breathing can help keep you calm and grounded throughout the day, and it’s one of the easiest ways to start intentionally taking care of yourself. “When planning how to integrate personal care into your daily life, be realistic with the time you have available,” says Atluri. “It’s best to start with small nuggets of personal care so that it feels manageable, achievable and accessible.”

She suggests spending five minutes in total repeating the rhythm of deep breathing through your nose for five seconds, then through your mouth for ten seconds. “Your breath is always with you, but neglected despite its powerful ability to bring you into a state of calm and clarity,” she says.

Want to take practice to the next level? Take your deep breath by plunging into a warm bath with Arnica bath salts for joints and muscles Kneipp (which you can buy at Ulta Beauty!) to relax sore muscles from the stress of the day and to inhale the therapeutic scents of arnica, rosemary and eucalyptus essential oils.

2. Try aromatherapy meditation

Meditation has many benefits for your mental well-being, and you can add it to your day by doing it during the one time you’re almost guaranteed to have time for me: the shower.

Atluri is a big fan of “habit stacking” when trying to add something new to your schedule because by attaching a new habit (like meditation) to an existing ritual that you do daily ( like taking a shower), you have a greater chance of success, she says.

To really tap into the calming powers of meditation, Atluri suggests pairing it with a scent that you find soothing. Try it in the shower with Kneipp Goodbye Stress Aromatherapy Body Wash (which contains mood-enhancing ingredients like water mint, rosemary, and eucalyptus oil) by closing your eyes, inhaling, saying to yourself “I cultivate calm” to yourself, then exhaling . “Repeat this process for up to ten minutes to instantly feel refreshed and radiant,” she says.

3. Move your body mindfully

When you can save more time (10 or 15 minutes), Atluri recommends trying mindful movement, such as going for a walk during your lunch break or before a holiday party, silencing your phone and watching everything you do. see and hear in order to anchor yourself in the present.

Reward your feet for having accompanied you in this movement by massaging on Kneipp Calendula & Orange Soothing Foot Repair Butter, which is made with soothing shea butter and essential oils to help nourish dry skin and promote moisture retention. Put on socks immediately afterward to really help lock in moisture.

Overall, Atluri emphasizes that you shouldn’t think of self-care as a reward for achieving a goal (like checking off that list of holiday gifts). “Why not reframe your perspective and make your well-being the goal? ” she says. “Putting yourself first leads to optimized productivity because you can now operate from a place of fullness.” And this is the best gift you can get.

Top photo: Stocksy / Atolas