Could NOT Decorating for the Holidays be a Form of Self Care?

Hmmm, I just realized it's Dec 5th. I haven't put out one holiday decoration and when I think about a good time to spend most of day to doing it, I really don't easily see a free day I want to dedicate to that and it doesn't sound like fun. 

But I feel okay about it. Except I still have one kid at home - it's her senior year - won't that be a terrible memory of her last Christmas at home? No decorations - well, not NO decorations, but maybe the tree will be up in mid December?? 

We only have Christmas lights outside around our house because we never took them down. I know people who think that's terribly tacky, and if I'm honest, even I have a few reservations (read: judgments) about when other people do it, buuuuut. . . 

1. Our lights are white, so I think they blend in pretty well (judgment #1: colored lights left up are a no-no). 

2. They are not the snowflake hanging type  (judgment #2: of course, THAT'S tacky!) 

3. I saved over $200 since I didn't have to pay someone to take them down last year and put them back up this month. (judgment #3: I'm just a cheapskate, you know someone really could have benefited from that income, especially at the holidays) 

4. It just made life so much easier and I could do other things I enjoy more - isn't that part of self care? (revelation, not judgment) 

I mean, what is the purpose of self-care, anyhow? I've coming to accept it's not always what feels indulgent like chocolate and bubble baths.

Sometimes, often really, the best self-care is hard. You might get judged. Want to stop drinking (or at least cut back)? People might think you're an alcoholic. 

Pass on that holiday party so you can get to bed early and workout? People might think you're a party pooper and you think you'll stop getting invited. 

Don't want to decorate for the holidays? Wow, you're a bad mom, my judgment says. 

In the end, I'm sure I'll decorate (some) for the holidays, but in truth, it's not my favorite thing - and if it's your favorite thing, then, by all means,, enjoy it to the fullest, really!- but I'm going to be okay with doing it late and doing it minimally. And I will consider it my own type of holiday self-care. 

What about you? Are you tempted not to decorate for the holidays? Or to take it down a notch? 

Or is it something that makes your heart sing? 

No right or wrong, maybe just a little acceptance of your truth and the courage to do it the way you want.