'Tis The Season To Be… A Little Egocentric

Holidays are a solid reminder to why it is so incredibly important not to lose ourselves in anyone or anything we do. They're also a persistent annual reminder of memories past, the loss of loved ones; or simply getting stuck into the everyday frustrations that tend to overwhelm us throughout this time of year.

I speak from experience when I say the most important thing you can do this holiday season is to set aside time for yourself.

Be a little egocentric. 

While it is indeed "the season to give", don't forget to give back to yourself. Set aside time for yourself each and everyday. Take the time to remember who you are and what's important in your life.

Here are three tricks that help me make it through stressful times, especially during the holiday season.

1. Write Things Down

Write things down. I tend to be a person who always has a lot going on. Living on my own, I don't always have the necessary reminders from other people reminding me: I for got to do 'this' or 'that'. As a result, I tend to forget a lot of things. So, what do I do? I write things down! Everything for that matter.

This busted little notebook has a million and one things that I've jotted down.

Most people opening it wouldn't be able to make much sense of it, but all that really matters at the end of the day is that I know what they mean. Having one place to just get me thoughts out of my head also really helps me to 'mentally de-clutter.'

   2. Try Yoga

This may not apply to everyone; try yoga. I know that there is a big stigma against this to a lot of the macho men out there, but I know plenty of male friends that gain a lot of the benefits yoga has to offer.

This is one of my favorite little yoga studios on the south shore-- Healing Tree Yoga. I also really love Open Doors Yoga Studios which offers and incredible hot power yoga class.

  
    3. Be spontaneous

If all else fails, scroll through your phone book and find the one friend who is funnest and most spontaneous to be around. You're bound to find at least two or three people who immediately come to mind. Being spontaneous allows for a lot of unexpected little pleasures. This weekend, my friend Broc and I went on an adventure of our own. Broc (who I refer strictly as Broccoli) is by far one of best friends I have for moments when I need something spontaneous and fun to do; times with him are usually nothing shy of adventurous, and are certainly memory worthy.



Here are a few shots from our endeavors this weekend.

Broc insisted on pulling over to play on the tire swings as we were driving past.

If I've learned anything from my weekend adventures with Broc, I learned this:

It is important to set aside time to focus solely on yourself. Many might consider this to be 'self-centered' but the reality is, as stated by Scottish moral philosopher Adam smith

 "human nature, even our most altruistic deeds is motivated in part by some concern for our selves."

While I'm not big into philosophy, I feel like a number of personal challenges I face, I face because I have been formally unable to apply this concept within my own life. I, by nature, have a very difficult time doing things because I want to do them (when it involves another person). So I've decided, after spending some time being a little ego-centric, that it's time for me to apply this concept a bit more readily. For this reason I say, be a little selfish this week.