With Christmas just around the corner and many other holidays either approaching or happening currently, so many of us feel pressure building. It’s like we’re festive soda cans, getting shaken up by the stress of what’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. We feel like we just have to power through - that we can have a break once it’s all over. And then we wonder why we never have much fun on the holidays we’re celebrating.

This is your chance to break that pattern.

Take a moment. Hit pause. Slow down. Read this blog post and take what you need to ease that pressure inside your soul. Because self-care is one of the best ways to celebrate any holiday.

Breathe

Take a moment and focus on your body. When was the last time you took a deep breath? Take one now. Inhale slowly though your nose, hold it for a second, and exhale even more slowly through your mouth. Do that a few times. Let your body know it’s okay to rest.

Check in with your body. Are your shoulders scrunched up to your ears? Relax them. Is your jaw clenched? Unclench it. Peel your tongue off the roof of your mouth. Wiggle your fingers and toes. Are you hungry? Thirsty? When was the last time you used the bathroom? Do you have a headache? Do what you can to meet your body’s needs. Once you’ve cared for your body, it’ll be easier to relax it.

Be Present

Pick one of your senses and focus just on that for a moment. What do you see? Are you surrounded by beautiful things? The holiday season is full of prettiness. Lights, decorations, and even snow in some places. Or maybe you prefer to savor the scents of the season. Pine and cinnamon and oranges and fresh air. Hear the sound of holiday music, the white noise of people milling about. Taste (cookies, cider, cocoa) or touch (ribbons, paper, the hand of a loved one).

Take a moment to ground yourself using one of your senses. Let the sensory experience soak through you and make the moment real. A few seconds of appreciation for the world around you can go a long way when you’re feeling like a runaway train of holiday stress.

Practice Gratitude

One of the biggest emotional elements of this time of year is gratitude. Gratitude for gifts, for family, for friends, for health. Take a second in the hustle and bustle to really be thankful for the things you love the most. Really recognize that gratitude and sit with it. Journal about it, even. Speak it aloud. If you’re grateful for a person, go tell them. You’d be amazed how much a small gesture like that can do to lift both your spirit and someone else’s.

As you move through your holiday preparation, try to be grateful throughout. Don’t lose sight of gratitude, even as you stand in line at your twelfth store of the day, trying to pick out the perfect gift. Even as you bake your hundredth cookie or sit among a tangle of lights that refuse to unknot. What are you grateful for in that exact moment? Yes, it’s frustrating, but is there anything at all you can find to be thankful for? Focus on that instead of the frustration, and you’ll find your burden of stress lightened just a bit.

Find your Community

Most of the holidays this time of year are very communal things - and with good reason! Being surrounded by friends and family makes everything so much better. During the stress of the season, it’s easy to forget to make time for those who matter to us. Take this moment and consider reaching out to someone. It could be to schedule some time to be together, or it could just be a quick text to say hi. Just a small “thinking of you” message can go a long way toward helping you feel less alone in your holiday whirlwind.

If you can, try to incorporate others into your traditions and tasks. Shop for gifts with someone you enjoy. Decorate a tree with loved ones. Go caroling or take a walk with people who matter to you. Everyone is busy. But taking that extra step to not be busy alone is a big factor in maintaining some peace during the holidays. You’ll also be helping those close to you feel supported and loved, so don’t hesitate to reach out.

Consider Necessity

This one is a hard one for many of us, who get wrapped up in trying to make the holidays magical. But consider if you truly NEED to do everything you’re trying to cram into your schedule. Are there any traditions that don’t mean very much to you? Is there something that is contributing more stress than joy? It can be tempting to take on an overwhelming amount of never-ending things to do and places to go. But perhaps clearing one item from your plate might be just the thing you need to lighten your mental load. There’s not a lot worse than trying to schedule an enchanting holiday season, only to wind up too stressed to enjoy any of it.

This time of year should be a source of cheer. If you’re feeling a bit grinchy when you think of everything you’ve got to do, maybe ask yourself if you truly need to do everything you’ve got planned. If something is causing more harm than not, then it might be a good idea to let it go for this year. That way, you can make the most of the things that mean more to you.

Break the Cycle

In the wild chaos of the holidays, it may feel impossible to find a sense of peace. But take a moment. Breathe. It will all be okay. Because, at the end of the day, nobody will remember if everything was perfect, or if you did everything that was available to you. What people will remember is the attitude you had and the way you felt about it all. That’s where the magic is.

If you’re stressed, just remember to pause. Things are rarely as urgent or as serious as our minds can make them out to be. Keep yourself grounded. Relax your body. Enjoy the moment. If you need help with that, we’ve got potion kits to guide you and your family in some mindfulness this time of year. So slow down. Rest. Because you deserve to enjoy the holidays, too.