I absolutely love the holiday season and all of the hustle and bustle that comes with it. Hosting out of town family members, shopping for loved ones, dressing up for festive parties, and cooking recipes that have been passed down for generations are all favorite pastimes of mine.

As much as I love all of these traditions, it can also feel overwhelming to pack extra activities into our already busy routine of work, school, kiddos, etc. In order to fully enjoy the holiday season and to avoid stress, I love taking time for a few easy self-care practices this time of year. I was thrilled when Olay reached out to me about their new Clay Stick Masks, which are perfect to incorporate into your self- care routine this time of year. Read on below for details and for more ways I decompress in between festivities!

Planning Ahead

While the act of planning itself might not seem like “self-care”, it definitely makes me feel better when I don’t have a huge looming to-do list! From decorating your home to crossing off your gift list and planning elaborate family meals, the holidays are full of to-dos which can feel like a lot on top of your regular weekly checklist. Before the holidays are in full swing, dedicate a day or two to tackle some of these items so that you can then actually enjoy the season with your friends and family.

At Home Facial Treatments

This crazy busy season doesn’t leave much time for indulgent spa days, so I love taking time to treat myself to an at-home face mask. Olay recently sent me their new line of Clay Stick Masks that I was super excited to try out. As the name implies, they come in stick form making them super easy and mess-free to apply. There are three different mask options — Olay Glow Boost, Pore Detox and Fresh Reset — so you can target whatever your skin needs most during the winter months. I was most excited to try the Pore Detox to give my skin a little extra TLC during this season of holiday parties and events that require more makeup than usual! It’s formulated with premium Kaolin clay and black charcoal to draw out impurities from deep within pores, which reduces pore appearance and leaves your skin super soft. You can apply it all over for a deep clean, or just in your T-zone area or wherever your face has the most congestion. Throw in a cup of tea and early bedtime and you have the most relaxing night ever! Olay’s Clay Stick Masks are available at Walmart on the beauty aisle.

Stay Home

During the holidays it feels like my calendar is completely full of back to back events, and I’ve realized over the years that if I want to stay sane I can’t try to make it to all of them! I prioritize the events that are most important and politely decline the rest, knowing that the time I would be at the event is now spent at home with FMK and the boys enjoying this special time of year. I love few things more than lighting a favorite holiday candle, putting on a family-friendly flick, and snuggling up on the couch with our family.

Indulge in a New TV Series

After a long day of work and holiday festivities, it’s so nice to curl up indoors on a cold evening by the fire and indulge in a TV series. After the boys are in bed, FMK and I love watching back to back episodes of our new favorite show. It’s the perfect way to unwind together and forget about our list of to-dos for a couple of hours! I can also put on my Olay Pore Detox mask while we watch shows for an extra boost of self-care. 😉

Volunteering

One thing we’ve tried to prioritize as a family is teaching our boys the importance of serving others and giving back. It’s amazing how gratifying and restorative a day of helping others can be — and how much perspective it gives you about the things we consider “stressful”! Without fail I always feel like I leave volunteer experiences feeling like I gained more than the people we were actually there to help. While I think we should be helping others year-round, it’s especially important to reach out to others during the holiday season who are without homes, family, food, and all of the wonderful things we so often take for granted.

Do you have any favorite ways to unwind during the holiday season? Please share in the comments below!

Thank you, Olay, for partnering with us on this post! If you have favorite ways to decompress during the holiday season, please leave them in the comments below! #allmasknomess #Olay #Walmart #ad

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Olay. The opinions and text are all mine.