It's the third week of October, and you're beginning to plan the meals, buy the gifts, and remember everyone's favorite cookie. Somewhere in there, you forgot to plan a single minute for yourself.
If that sounds familiar, you're not doing the holidays wrong. You're doing what most women do: putting yourself at the bottom of a very long list. And when someone says "take time for yourself," it can feel like one more thing to add.
We hear it at the chair and in the treatment room all the time: "I'd love to, but I just don't have the time."
So let's skip the big plans. This post is about one hour. Just one, once a week, from now through New Year's.
A weekend away or a full self-care overhaul sounds lovely, but it usually gets pushed to "after the holidays." One hour is small enough to actually happen. Think of it like a standing appointment. It doesn't need to be fancy. It needs to be on the calendar.
It also builds a habit. After a few weeks, that hour stops feeling like a luxury and starts feeling like part of your week.
Look at your week and find the hour that's easiest to protect. For some women it's a weekday morning before work. For others it's Sunday afternoon. Healthcare workers and anyone on shifts might choose the same hour each week after a long stretch of work, to help your body reset.
Write it in the same place you keep everything else. Give it a name you'll take seriously, like "Appointment" or "Hold." If it's only in your head, it will lose to the next request.
Most of the hour gets lost deciding. Pick your activity ahead of time so you can walk right in. (Ideas below.)
A simple "I'm unavailable Thursday from 2 to 3" is enough. You don't need to explain or apologize.
Not sure what to do? Here are some options that take little planning:
A facial. Someone else does the work and you get to lie back and breathe. A facial also gives you a visible glow for the gatherings ahead.
A massage. Good for shoulders that have been up by your ears since September.
A haircut or fresh color. Looking in the mirror and liking what you see is its own kind of rest.
A walk with no podcast. Fresh air and quiet. Better yet, a visit to Longwood Gardens!
A bath with the door closed. Warm water, a little music, a locked door.
A coffee or tea somewhere you don't usually go. Bring a book instead of your phone.
A slow evening routine. Wash your face, apply your serum, put on something cozy. Take your time.
A browse with no list. Wander through a boutique or a garden with nothing to buy and nowhere to be.
Ten minutes of stretching. Then ten minutes of sitting still.
Nothing. Sitting on the couch with a blanket counts.
You probably will, at least at first. Many women feel it. A few things that help:
Remember who benefits. You're calmer and kinder when you're not running on empty. The people around you notice.
Start with 30 minutes if an hour feels like too much. You can build from there.
Skip the "earn it" rule. You don't have to finish your list first. The list never ends.
Some weeks will go sideways. That's okay. If you miss your hour, move it. Don't cancel it. Even a short break counts.
And if you want your hour to be something you don't have to plan at all, book it. Treatments like facials and massages fill up quickly in December, so the earlier you pick your day, the easier it is to get the time you want.
Open your calendar right now and find the next hour you can protect this week. Put a block on it and give it a name. You don't need to decide what you'll do yet. Just claim the time.
This holiday season, you're allowed to be on your own list. One hour a week is a small thing. It might also be the thing that helps you feel like yourself on the days that matter most. If you'd like some help making your hour a restful one, we'd love to see you. You can book a consultation with our team, just come in and we do the rest!
Not sure who to book with? Take our quick stylist quiz and we’ll match you with the right person for your hair. Find your stylist match!
Ready to book? Reserve your appointment online, or try the New Artist Salon for a lower price.
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