Thanksgiving can feel complicated. On the one hand, it’s a beautiful day to come together with friends and family and give thanks for all the things we have. On the other hand, coming together with friends and family during high stakes holiday time, trying to get the perfect family photos, resetting family dynamics, and trying to catch up with folks we rarely see during the year, can be stressful.
So if you’re at the precipice of the holiday and feeling any sort of anxiety, here are six helpful, deeply human ways to take care of yourself this Thanksgiving. We hope they offer you ways to make room for joy, meaning, and the kind of comfort you can feel down to your bones.
Photo by Ashley Streff
1. Don’t people-please (even if it’s the path of least resistance).
So many of us know we do this again and again. The temptation to people-please is at an all-time high during the holidays. It’s almost inevitable that you, a caretaker in your everyday life, will look around the Thanksgiving table and clock what everyone else needs before you figure out what you need. But people-pleasing is a massive energy leak and most of the time it’s unnecessary. Straining that much can drain your joy, narrow your bandwidth, and, paradoxically, keeps you from staying present with the people for whom you’re “over-caring”. Boundary setting is a caring act. As Brene Brown says, clear is kind. So feel free to set boundaries and check in with yourself before saying yes to a request. It helps to dress the part too. Wear a beautiful, flowing plus size duster kimono robe layered over your outfit for a kimono outfit that reinforces your grounded confidence. When you feel powerful, it becomes much easier to uphold boundaries with kindness and clarity.
Photo by Ashley Streff
2. Listen to your body (especially around food and drink).
Thanksgiving is often framed as a license to overindulge, as if fullness is the sport of the season. But your body already knows how much food or alcohol it wants. It already knows what feels comforting, what feels too heavy, and what feels just right. And if you do overindulge in any direction, take it easy on yourself. Listen to your body and drink a little extra water or wear something loose and comfy like a silky, soft, drapey piece from your favorite kimono clothing collection. Give yourself the headstart of slow, nourishing morning in your most beloved women’s silk robe while you sip tea before the big day begins. The more connected you feel to yourself physically, the easier it is to honor your internal cues.
3. Do something unexpected and kind for someone else.
Self care includes caring outwardly too because generosity expands you. Being generous moves energy and shifts your focus off of stress and onto connection. Kindness doesn’t have to be an epic gesture. It could be as simple as:
-
Slipping a handwritten note into someone’s coat pocket.
-
Bringing a warm drink to the cousin who’s been cooking for hours.
-
Offering to take a quick walk with the relative who seems overwhelmed.
-
Complimenting someone’s haircut, sweater, or energy.
Acts of kindness reset the nervous system. And if you want to feel extra enchanted while you play holiday fairy godmother, slip into your plus size duster kimono robe or the effortless elegance of your favorite kimono outfits to bring a touch of magic to each small gesture.
Photo by Stephanie Russo
4. Make a morning phone call to someone you love.
Before the day sweeps you into logistics, casseroles, and conversation, anchor yourself with a phone call to someone who genuinely sees you. Give a call to:
-
Your best friend who feels like a soul sibling
-
A family member you won’t see that day
-
A mentor, teacher, or elder you adore
-
A cousin who always makes you laugh
Make the most out of your call and wrap up in the softness of your favorite kimono clothing or curled up in your luxurious women’s silk robe, sipping coffee or tea, letting the morning sunlight touch your face. Moments like this make the holiday yours.
5. Move your body in a way that feels good.
Holiday movement does not need to be punishing, structured, or guilt-driven. It should feel like a gift. Just ask yourself: What would feel good right now? Here are some ideas:
-
A 10-minute stretch while the potatoes boil
-
A dance in the kitchen to your favorite nostalgic playlist
-
A crisp walk before guests arrive
-
Simple breathwork on your bed before you get dressed
-
A yoga flow in your living room wearing a lightweight plus size duster kimono robe that sways around you keeping you warm
Movement clears mental fog, reawakens intuition, and lets you return to the day with a refreshed sense of presence. Don’t feel you need to move with discipline. Simply listen to your body and react, knowing you’re doing so much to reinvigorate your body.
Photo by Ashley Streff
6. Rest and sleep when you need to.
This is so important, but it takes a lot of effort to do it sometimes. Yes,you can rest even on Thanksgiving, even when people are in your house, even when the inner perfectionist whispers, “But there are dirty cups still on the kitchen table!” Thanksgiving is not a performance and you won’t be evaluated. Resting is not laziness either. In fact, it’s an act of trust with the people around you and yourself. Your body knows when your energy is dipping. It knows when you need to step away from the noise, close your eyes, and breathe. Take some time to:
-
Take a nap
-
Sit outside alone for a few minutes
-
Disappear to your room with a book
-
Say, “I need a moment” without apologizing
-
Wrap yourself in your coziest women’s silk robe, sink into the softness of the moment, and let your nervous system settle.
When you resist people-pleasing, nourish yourself mindfully, offer small kindnesses, connect with someone you love, move your body, and rest when needed, you show up to the holiday as your truest self. All of those actions are generative, they take your focus for just a moment, but then they give back to you tenfold. That energy is the best gift you can give—to yourself and everyone around you.
From our family to yours, we hope your Thanksgiving is as wonderful as you are.
