Every holiday season can be fraught with chaos and last minute challenges. Bustling from here to there, making sure you’ve shopped for family and friends, hosting folks for a holiday meal… Well, this year may be looking a bit different. Whether you’re in a place where you’re able to be with friends and family, or this will be the first time in a long time that you’ve celebrated the holidays without those lifetime traditions, the season can still feel chaotic.
It’s been a year of challenge after challenge. And to make it through to the end? That’s no small feat. But as you arrive at the end of the year, it’s more important than ever this year that you take the time to find your breath and keep your feet on the ground. We are all finding our way through this new normal, and as our plans get thrown up in the air, connecting to your breath, your calm, and your peace of mind will help you make it through the end of the year. Not just by merely “surviving” it, but by deepening your gratitude, your connection to the ones you love, and your own appreciation for the little ways your life remains beautiful. At KIM+ONO, we know that holiday self care is often overlooked by the ones who take care of everyone else. So today in the journal, we’re reminding you with five simple tips, that taking care of yourself this season is essential, necessary, and a beautiful way to find your breath during this challenging season. Read on to learn easy tips for self-care during the holidays.
It may seem simple and obvious, but it’s been said that fully hydrating can improve your day by at least 10%! While chaos can lead to a desire to chug caffeine (trust us, we’re with you!), drinking enough water each day can actually energize you more. According to Active.com, “dehydration leads to fatigue because it impacts the flow of oxygen to the brain and causes your heart to work harder to pump oxygen to all your bodily organs, making you more tired and less alert. By staying hydrated you stay energized.” Make your first step of self care each day an easy one: throw on your green kimono robe to brighten up your mood, drink a cool glass of water, and feel yourself start the day on the right foot.
No matter how fast paced the world around you is, do your best this season to avoid the feeling of rushing. With limited places to go, you might not feel like you rush, but take stock of how you move through your day. You may still have that anxious pace in the way you text, email, make dinner, and in myriad other ways. Find ways to slow it all down. Slip into your silk kimono robe to remind you to luxuriate in the moment longer. Avoid looking at screens as much as possible in the first hour of your day. Find moments when you can calmly take a deep breath and linger, whether it’s in the morning as you’re washing your face or at night while brewing a cup of tea. Seek out all the places during your day that you can avoid the rush and choose to go slow.
It has been a difficult year in regards to connecting with the ones we love. We have been forced to isolate, quarantine, or socially distance, and none of that is conducive to a sense of well-being. Study after study has shown that isolation and quarantine can be associated with mental illness. According to the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, one way to combat this issue is to “connect with others. Reaching out to friends and family is one of the best ways to reduce anxiety, depression, and loneliness. If it’s not yet safe for you to visit people in person, use the telephone, text messaging, or email to be in contact.” One thing we have loved hearing about from our customers this year, is the way you’ve gotten creative with connection. You’ve held Zoom parties in your favorite kimono wraps and kimono robes to bring the feeling of self care to your screen. You’ve gifted your girlfriend a luxurious silk kimono robe just to say “I’m thinking of you”, and you’ve picked out matching kimono wraps for you and your moms. In all of these ways and more, you connect deeply with the ones you love — creating a bond through a challenging time, and reminding each other that you’re always here for each other, no matter the distance.
To find your breath this season, you cannot forget about yourself. As someone who is always looking out for everyone else, it’s essential you take the time (even in small ways) to look out for yourself, too. Daily self care doesn’t have to be anything extreme. It can be washing your face with your favorite face wash, or making sure you’re eating healthy foods that leave you energized. It can be wearing kimono fabric that gives you a sense of calm or pulling your Tarot cards each night. There are so many ways, large and small, to remember your own well-being. Make sure that every single day this season, you’re doing at least one thing that makes you feel good.
While this has been an unexpected and challenging year, there is still so much to be grateful for. It can be so hard to find those points of gratitude when things are difficult, but if you are able to find gratitude for even the smallest things, it will bring you through these challenging times. Look around you right now and pick out one thing that makes you happy, or that makes you feel a sense of gratitude. It can be as big as being with your family or as small as your own heartbeat. Take stock of these beautiful things. If you get into a rhythm with finding gratitude, you might even make it part of your morning routine this season. Wear your women’s kimono robe each morning, brew your coffee or tea, and make a list of the things you’re grateful for each day. These small moments of gratitude add up to a bountiful collection of life’s most precious moments.
This season, while traditions change and plans redirect, we hope each one of our women’s kimono robes are a small way for you to feel your breath deepened and your joy reignited. Wishing you all the best for a beautiful holiday season.
