7 Mindfulness Tips to Survive the Stress of the Holidays

The holidays can be a source of happiness and togetherness for many people. For others, it can be a source of great stress, loneliness, and grief.

Or it might be a mix of both good and bad feelings.

The holidays have always felt this way for me. There have been magical moments and precious memories, but there has also been a darker side to traverse. There might be the pressure from family to be there, the expectation of gift-giving, and the depressive undertone when everything is over.

Being more mindful might cure your holiday woes, or at least it might help keep balance.

PIN ME!

As an adult with two young children, I decided that I needed to find a way to deal with at least some of these issues and not pass them down. It’s time to look at the holidays a bit differently and mindfully.

In its simplest form, being mindful is just being aware of the present moment and those around you.
The holidays can make this hard when we are distracted by people pleasing, buying gifts, and spending time running tons of errands.

When we are distracted by what great aunt Gertrude might think of the food we are making or what our parents will say when we can’t spend Christmas day with them, it can make the holidays not so jolly.

What is mindfulness all about?

In its simplest form, being mindful is just being aware of the present moment and those around you.
The holidays can make this hard when we are distracted by people pleasing, buying gifts, and spending time running tons of errands.

When we are distracted by what great aunt Gertrude might think of the food we are making or what our parents will say when we can’t spend Christmas day with them, it can make the holidays not so jolly.

How can practicing mindfulness help?

• Increase emotional regulation
• Reduce stress and anxiety
• Decrease depression

You may not be able to control how others feel, but you can control how you think.
I am not saying we can heal generational trauma or take down consumerism within this post, but I want to offer tips and peace of mind to those who have experienced things as I have.

7 Best Mindfulness Tips to Survive the Holidays

Tip 1: Remind yourself that you are enough.

You were not put on this planet to please and honor other people. You are here to honor your time and explore your own life. This may be the first time you are hearing this, so take time to remember that you are enough as you are.

Here are some ways to remind you:

• Use positive affirmations
• Set an intention for your day
• Journal about your stronger feelings. You will feel better when you let it out.

Tip 2: Cut down on consumerism

Sometimes, we feel like we need to go into debt to make others feel special or to show that we care deeply. Don’t give in to those feelings. Be intentional about the gifts you wish to give. Making something with my hands or receiving something handmade has always been my favorite thing to do during the holiday.

Here are some ways to give:

• Donate to someone’s favorite charity in their name.
• Get creative with handmade gifts. (Here are some fun ideas!)
• Write a heartfelt letter to someone you love.

Tip 3: Don’t say yes to everything

I know this is hard for many people, so remember tip #1, but if you can, say no. The holidays are not a time to go hard and then be burnt out for the new year. No one must attend 20 holiday parties in a month unless they want to.

I have children and refuse to be run all over by relatives who think I need to be there. Your sanity is worth more than a hurt feeling. Most secure and mature folks will be understanding. As for the others, it’s time to take a stand against toxicity!

Need more reassurance? Take a look at this excellent post on saying NO.

Looking for more seasonal tips for self-care? Check out 5 Ways to a More Joyful Winter!

Tip 4: Start and end your day with gratitude

Gratitude is when you concentrate on everything going well and count those blessings. Practicing gratitude is an easy and beneficial way to stay positive if affirmations aren’t your thing.

Ways to stay grateful:

• Keep a gratitude journal
• When you wake up, name three things you are thankful for.
• Make a gratitude jar.

Tip 5: Celebrate the True Meaning of the Season

Somewhere along the way, we need to catch up on the reason for the season. Stress, excessive spending, and overeating have become the hallmarks of the holiday. We have everything we want at our fingertips, yet we still feel empty.

My children and I have baked cookies with my father every year before Christmas and have done so for the last 10+ years, and the memories we make are more precious to me than any gift I might receive.

Ways to find more meaning:

• Start a new tradition, like a game, story, or song you do each year. (Check this list for more ideas!)
• Go around the table and say who or what you are grateful for if you don’t already!
• Do a potluck or cook as a family and take the pressure off just one person cooking.

Tip 6: Volunteer or give to a charity

The first thing that comes to mind is the man outside the store with the red bucket and bell singing and collecting for the Salvation Army. One of the beautiful things we have kept is the tradition of giving to those in need. By being mindful of others who truly need us, we can help remember our humanity.

Ways to volunteer and give:

• Do a reverse advent calendar
• Volunteer or give to a shelter or domestic violence shelter
• Spend time with seniors, as this can be incredibly lonely for our elders.

Tip 7: Make peace with the holidays

Coming back to our feelings. This can be a time of intense emotions, be it joy or grief. Maybe we have lost someone dear to us, and the holidays don’t feel the same. Perhaps someone always makes us feel we are not enough and spoils the fun. Maybe we feel we are all alone.

Never ignore these feelings or hold them in. Find a positive way to let them out by journaling or talking with someone you trust.

• Light a candle and set a place for those who have passed. Let yourself remember and love them.
• Write a letter to someone who irks you during the holidays, and then let that shit go! (You don’t have to give it to them. Just get your feeling out, then burn it(safely!))
• Start a shadow work journal.

Conclusion

The holidays may be wrapped up in stress and excess, but it doesn’t have to be. You are in control of your feelings and actions.

I do hope these tips help in some way to make your holidays a little more peaceful.

Feel free to leave a comment below about how you handle the holidays!

Stay cozy, and don’t stress the holidays!