When the Social Battery Is Empty: Choosing Self-Care on Boxing Day

Boxing Day has arrived and my body is tired.

Not the kind of tired that sleep alone can fix, but the deep, layered tired that comes from a month filled with engagement, connection and presence.

December held a lot this year. Two retreats, a full calendar of gatherings, and Christmas itself with multiple family circles coming together on the same day. I loved it. Having all of my relatives together doesn’t always happen, and it felt rich, meaningful and special. But it was also full, and fullness takes energy.

By the end of Boxing Day, I was completely peopled out. My social battery was empty and I felt a quiet relief in returning home to my own space, my sanctuary.

Throughout the month, I’ve been intentional about weaving in moments of self-care and nervous system regulation, but it has taken effort. When there is so much on, regulation doesn’t happen by accident. It requires conscious choice, especially when life feels busy.

Those moments have been simple yet powerful. Early morning visits to the beach while on retreat. Regular gym sessions before the day begins. Lingering a little longer in the bathroom while getting ready. Even something as small as putting on a bit of lipstick before leaving the house, a tiny ritual of care that helps me feel grounded and present.

After our final Christmas lunch and a walk with Odin, I knew my body needed deeper rest. A magnesium bath came to mind. The idea of warm water, quiet music, candles and a face mask felt incredibly nourishing.

Then reality stepped in. I realised the bath needed cleaning first. We shower in it, and I’d been meaning to give it some attention since returning home. For a moment, I considered abandoning the idea altogether. It would have been easier to sit on the couch and leave the task for another day.

Instead, I chose a reframe.

I decided to see the cleaning not as a chore, but as part of the ritual. A necessary step that would allow me to fully relax afterwards. I lit a candle, put on calming music and moved slowly, letting the process become intentional rather than rushed.

When I finally lowered myself into the warm magnesium bath, the shift was immediate. My shoulders softened. My breath deepened. Tension began to melt away. I applied my Dead Sea Mud Mask with a brush, slowing myself even further, and allowed my mind to quiet while it worked.

As I rested, I gently reminded myself that it is safe to take time for myself. There was nothing I needed to do or achieve. Just be. Breathe. Rest.

That pause was exactly what my body needed.

It would have been easier to skip it, but it wouldn’t have been kinder. The bathroom was clean, my nervous system felt soothed, and I knew my future self would thank me.

This is the kind of self-care that truly supports us. It isn’t always about escaping responsibility, but about bringing presence, intention and care into the everyday. Lighting a candle. Moving slowly. Making space for rest in a world that constantly asks for more.

If you are feeling exhausted, overstimulated or peopled out, let this be your reminder that even one intentional moment can change how your body feels.

Especially when there is a lot on.

💙Melissa