We’ve now entered into the seventh month of the pandemic and the holiday season is abruptly upon us.

For many people, holidays can be the most joyous time of the year – trick-or-treaters going door to door with bags full of candy, families gathering around the dinner table to give thanks, and presents being unwrapped from under the tree. But with so much else going on in our daily lives in the middle of a pandemic, it’s difficult to give any thought to what the holidays will even look like this year, or simply how we will be able to make it through.

No matter if you’re working, in the job search process, juggling childcare, trying to help your child/children cope with their own stress, bored at home, missing your family, or really anything else, we’re here to tell you that during the holidays, self-care is more important than ever and is still totally possible to achieve.

To help you be your BEST self this holiday season, we’ve put together this fresh list of self-care articles, exercises, books, and podcasts for your everyday use.

General Self-Care Guidance

50 Digital Resources to Help You Manage Your Mental Health During the Holidays – Online Counseling Programs

9 Christmas self-care tips – Balance Through Simplicity Blog

30 Simple Ways to Take Care of Yourself Over the Holidays – Be More with Less

10 Things to Help You Get Through the Pandemic into the Fall – The Washington Post

90 Self-Care Activities to Start in 2020 – Gr8ness

8 Self-Care Tips for Fall in Quarantine – Healthline

Laurie Santos Says Self-Care Doesn’t Have to Be Selfish – New York Times

Self-Care Resources – Amerian Alliance of Museums

Talking About Race: Self-Care – Smithsonian's NMAAHC

Self-Care Resources – WMA

Creative Mindfulness Exercises

Self-Care Sunday Meditation Exercises – Carnegie Museum of Art

Take 10 Minutes to Defuse Holiday Stress with This Mindfulness Practice – Mindful

Mindfulness Activities: Fun Ways to Be Mindful (No Matter How Much Time You Have!) – Rachael Kable Blog

5 Art Therapy Exercises to Add to Your Self-Care Routine – SELF

Self Care Checklist During the Holidays + Free Printable – Put the Kettle on Blog

Burn After Writing – Authored by Sharon Jones

Interactive Self-Care Guide – Taken from the Smithsonian's NMAAHC Self-Care page

Self-Care For Parents

The hidden benefits of self-care for working parents – Fast Company

The One Thing Caregivers Tend to Neglect – The Oprah Magazine

Self Care For Parents In the Time of Coronavirus – Parents Together

Self-Care in the Time of Coronavirus – Child Mind Institute

15 Self-Care Strategies for Parents – VeryWellFamily

25 Simple Self-Care Tools for Parents – Psychology Today

11 Tips for Mindful Parenting – Mindspace

I’m a CEO and a Working Dad. Here’s What I Wish I Did Differently. – Harvard Business Review

Time Out for Mom During the Holidays – Up North Parent Blog

They Need Me-Time, Too: A Self-Care Checklist to Do With Your Kids – Parents.com

Self-Care Books + Podcasts For Everyone

The More or Less Definitive Guide to Self-Care: From A to Z – Authored by Anna Borges

Best Self-Help Books to Guide You on the Road to Self-Care – Penguin Random House

Objective Lessons: Self Care for Museum Professions – Authored by Seema Rao

The Marshmallow Test – Authored by Walter Mischel

Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World – Authored by Admiral William H. McRaven

The Self-Care Revolution: smart habits & simple practices to allow you to flourish – Authored by Suzy Reading

150 Holiday Self-Care Activities: 150 ways to radically care for your body, mind, and soul! – Authored by Christine Scott-Hudson

Podcast: Family Voices on Self-Care During a Crisis – Family Voices United

20 Best Self-Help Podcasts to Listen to in 2020 – VeryWellMind

Listen Up: The 14 Best Parenting Podcasts to Add to Your List – MyDomaine

This list will be continuously updated.

Do you have a self-care resource to share? Please contact us at communications@westmuse.org.

Written by Jessica Noyes, Communications Coordinator, WMA