The holidays are a time of joy, reflection, and togetherness. Work slows down, festive music fills the air, and people seem to carry a happier glow. But for many, this season can also bring its share of stress and overwhelm—balancing family dynamics, preparing for time off, traveling between celebrations, and navigating the financial strain of gift-giving. Add in the chaos of holiday parties and the pressure of meeting expectations, and it’s easy to feel stretched thin. That’s why having tools and resources to stay grounded is essential to fully embrace the magic of the season without losing yourself in the process.
Here are 12 resources to help you navigate the holidays with ease and intention:
1. Adopt a Gratitude Practice
Gratitude can be a powerful antidote to stress. According to Harvard Health, regularly writing down what you’re grateful for can help you focus on the positive and foster optimism. Try keeping a daily gratitude journal. Even jotting down three things each day can shift your mindset and make a lasting impact. Focus on everything you have instead of everything you don’t!
2. Try a Restorative Yoga Pose
Restorative yoga uses props like bolsters and blankets to support your body in restful positions, promoting relaxation and activating the parasympathetic nervous system (responsible for rest and digest). It creates feelings of warmth and safety, allowing your body to let go of the stress. Did you know it takes 15min to break the stress cycle? So spend 15 minutes in a pose like legs-up-the-wall or a supported child’s pose to reset your nervous system. You can try this practice first thing in the morning, between meetings, or before bed to break the stress cycle.
3. Practice a Simple Breathing Technique
Taking a few intentional breaths can be transformative. Try this: inhale deeply through your nose for a count of four, hold for four, exhale for four and hold again at the bottom of the breath for four. Repeat 12 times. It’s called box breathing and it slows your heart rate, calms the mind, and helps you feel more grounded. It’s a quick way reduce stress and become present.
4. Experience Reiki Energy Healing
Reiki is an ancient Japanese energy healing technique that promotes relaxation and emotional healing. My clients say they feel calmer, lighter and more grounded after reiki. More focused and clear. Reiki can be used to clear the energy in your aura, balance your chakras and feel more like yourself. It can be done in-person or virtually.
I offer distance reiki sessions. Learn more by emailing me at [email protected] or book a 30min virtual meeting.
5. Meditate or Practice Yoga Nidra
Meditation doesn’t have to be complex or lengthy to be effective. Apps like Insight Timer or Calm offer guided sessions for as little as five minutes. Or choose a mantra, spend a few minutes at the beginning to feel into the energy of it and use that as a place to ground yourself. Yoga Nidra can also be a great choice, known as yogic sleep, much like a meditation that goes through different layers to relax the body, starting with body awareness, then breath work and depending on how long it is, maybe even a visualization. This time of of year is great to build a consistent practice, experiencing the compounding benefits the more you practice.
6. Learn About Setting Boundaries
The holidays can test our limits, especially when dealing with family dynamics or social obligations. Setting clear, loving boundaries is key to maintaining your well-being. Remembers, boundaries are for you, not them. They support you feeling like the best version of you so you don’t get lost in everyone else. Try things like taking 15min by yourself, going for a walk by yourself or taking a night to do something you want to do if you’re with family for a few days. You don’t have to spend ALL of your time together.
Books like Set Boundaries, Find Peace or Drama Free: A Guide to Managing Unhealthy Family Relationships by Nedra Glover Tawwab offer practical strategies to help you communicate your needs effectively.
7. Release Emotional Charge with TIME Techniques
Negative emotions like anger, sadness, fear, hurt and guilt/shame have built up throughout generations and our lifetime, sometimes creating an emotional charge that stays with you and creates extra emotional turmoil during the holidays. My clients tell me that TIME techniques feels like 10 years of therapy in one session because it helps release the emotional charge around these emotions by working with the subconscious mind.
8. Get Outside for a Walk or Hike
Nature is a powerful healer. A simple walk outdoors can improve mood, reduce stress, and increase creativity. Bundle up, breathe in the fresh air, and let nature rejuvenate you. Even 20 minutes outside can work wonders for your mental health.
9. Be Creative with Gift-Giving
The best gifts don’t have to cost a fortune—they just need to come from the heart. Explore thrift stores, get crafty, or repurpose items with sentimental value. Need inspiration? ChatGPT can help brainstorm unique and budget-friendly ideas tailored to your loved ones. Or check out this list of 26 amazing gift ideas.
10. Seek Support When You Need It
You don’t have to do it all alone. If the holidays feel overwhelming, consider seeking help from a therapist or coach. They can provide a safe space to process emotions, navigate challenges, and create a plan for thriving during this time of year. Many companies have an EAP (employee assistance plan) included in their benefit plans which can give you many free resources.
11. Write a 2025 Story with ChatGPT
Dreaming about the future can be really exciting and stimulate positive thoughts around what’s next. Try sparking some creativity by setting a day in the future, either after the holidays on December 26th or farther out, next year December 31, 2025. What would your dream holiday season look like? What would the best 2025 look like?
Write a story about it with the help of ChatGPT. This can be a fun and imaginative way to set positive intentions for the season.
12. Start Your Vision Board for 2025
There’s no better time to start envisioning your future than now. Gather magazines, print pictures, or use digital tools to create a vision board for the year ahead. Focus on how you want to feel, what you want to achieve, and the experiences you want to attract. Think about this in terms of professional development, personal development, relationships, travelling, home and health. What’s important to you and where do you want to focus your time and energy?
Closing Thoughts
The holidays don’t have to be a season of stress and exhaustion. By incorporating these tools and practices, you can create space for joy, connection, and balance.
Remember, personal growth—whether in leadership, life, or the holiday season—is a journey of continuous improvement. Every small step you take is worth celebrating. The world needs your unique brilliance, so keep prioritizing your well-being, embracing your potential, and shining brightly.
Book a call with me to discover how I can support you in creating balance, joy, and sustainable success during the holidays and beyond.
Here’s to a season filled with peace, purpose, and presence.
