7 Tips to an Emotionally Well Holiday Season

7 Tips to an Emotionally Well Holiday Season

Every season is one of becoming, but not always one of blooming. Be gracious with your ever-evolving self.

B. Oakman

The shops are filling…

The lists are growing…

The stress is mounting…

The holidays are here, friends.

Read on for our 7 tips to an emotionally well holiday season:

1. Respect your limits

Maybe you’re feeling low on energy lately. Or you’re simply overextended with too many To Do’s on your plate. There are plenty of reasons why you might not feel totally on top of the holidays this year… and that’s completely normal. Trying to be everything to everyone might seem like a noble goal, but it’s actually a recipe for burnout.

TRY THIS:

Set clear boundaries around your time, energy, and resources.

2. Care for yourself first

You know how flight attendants direct you to secure your own oxygen mask before helping others (even children) with theirs? Caring for your own needs is an essential part of caring for others. This is easy to forget during the hustle and bustle of the holidays, but that’s when it’s especially important!

TRY THIS:

Start incorporating some self-care habits now to feel better all season

3. Cultivate gratitude

A strange thing happens over the holiday season: No matter how rich we are in belongings, experiences, and relationships, we can become distracted by the chaos and lose sight of it all. By giving thanks for the small blessings in life, you’re more likely to appreciate the big ones, too.

TRY THIS:

Make gratitude a regular part of your day.

4. Allow yourself to enjoy

Before the holidays have even begun, there’s the onslaught of holiday advice: What to eat! What not to eat! What to buy! How to save! How to plan ahead for the coming year…! It’ll exhaust you if you let it. So, why not let go of all the “should”s this holiday season, and simply allow yourself to be present and enjoy?

TRY THIS:

Savor the delights of the season by staying in the present moment.

5. Leave room for grief/loss

For many of us, the holidays can be a reminder of what we’re missing or what we’ve lost. This is a natural part of life, and not something to be swept under the rug. By releasing the expectation that holidays be exclusively “cheerful” and allowing yourself to feel the full range of emotions, you’ll connect more authentically with yourself and the spirit of the season.

TRY THIS:

Allow yourself to experience grief even in the midst of celebrations.

6. Embrace imperfections

It’s a holiday certainty: Things will go wrong. Recipes will fail, weather will interfere, and people will challenge and disappoint you. Choose to embrace it all and enjoy the holidays anyway!

TRY THIS:

Approach yourself (and others) with greater compassion.

7. Leave space for the unexpected

So much of our holiday stress results from the belief that we’re in full control. It’s simply not true! By letting go of the responsibility for controlling everything that happens, you’ll open yourself up to new kinds of magic you couldn’t even predict.

TRY THIS:

Adopt a growth mindset and see what surprises are in store.

Happy Holidays!


Enjoy this post? You might also like:

Holiday Boundary Setting: 3 Areas to Consider
Saying No (with Kindness)
Holiday Eating & Boundaries

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