Courtesy of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

For many, the holiday season is about friends and family, eating comfort foods and enjoying time to relax. But the close of the calendar year can leave us feeling run-down, drained, and with a weakened immune system. While it’s easy to lose sight of healthy routines during the holidays, maintaining self-care practices is fundamental for our ability to promote and maintain good health, prevent disease and cope.

Here are some goals and suggestions for making sure self-care doesn’t fall away as we wind down the year.

Relax. If you are fortunate to have time off from work, make good use of this downtime and enjoy some quiet time. This is time to reset, relax and rejuvenate!

Exercise with family and friends. Playing outdoors in winter is especially important — try winter walking or hiking, perhaps with snowshoes or skis. Include those you most cherish, especially kids, grandkids and any four-legged friends.

Don’t forget sleep! Many research studies have shown the potential negative effects of lack of sleep. Take advantage of any time off to get to bed earlier or sleep a little later.

Connect. Reaching out to others and performing acts of service are great ways to connect. Giving an extra tip to a server, supporting local shelters, helping older neighbors with snow removal, or being a secret helper are simple ways to give back. Connect to yourself too!

Mindful eating. Be aware of food and drink that makes you feel weighed down so you know what to steer away from. A good strategy for holiday parties is to eat a light meal before to nourish your body without overindulging.

Journaling. As families get together for the holidays, it can stir up many emotions — the good, the bad, and the ugly. Try to work through any drama by writing down your thoughts and feelings; journaling can help free your mind of any strong emotions that might come up.

Gratitude. As you move through these next couple weeks of shopping, family visits and celebrations, taking a moment to make a list of what you are thankful for is a great way to honor what is good in your life, and possibly curb any “bah humbug” moments.

For those who are struggling. This time of year, can be especially difficult for those dealing with cancer, mental health challenges or other serious illnesses, including caregivers who are doing their best to support a loved one. If you’re dealing with illness or other big struggles this year, give yourself permission to have the holidays be different than they were in the past. This might mean allowing loved ones to host, help or bring food, paring down the celebrations, or giving oneself permission to excuse themselves and rest. The key is to keep up the most meaningful part of your traditions while also reducing the energy burden, freeing you up to enjoy the moment.

Turn to others when you need support. You can call, text or chat 988 to reach the New York State Crisis Lifeline, or call the local Crisis Services 24-Hour Crisis Hotline at 716-834-3131. You are not alone!

Contributors: Kathryn Glaser, PhD, MA, an expert with Roswell Park’s Department of Cancer Prevention and Control, and Megan Pailler, PhD, Director of the Division of Psychology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.