The holidays are a time of connection, joy, and celebration. But let’s face it: they can also bring stress, overwhelm and just downright exhaustion. Between managing the kids’ party schedules, attending the office parties, shopping for gifts and moving the darn Elf every night, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters most and the meaning of Christmas altogether. I’ve felt this weighing heavily on me the last couple of weeks and it has come up in most conversations with friends and clients.
This year, how about we flip the script? Instead of just surviving the holidays, let’s create a season that feels meaningful and restorative for you and your family.
Here’s a practical tool to help you stay grounded and aligned with what truly matters: let’s call it the Present, Purpose, and Possibility Practice.
Step 1: Get Present in the Room You’re In
The first step to staying self-aware is to anchor yourself in the present moment. When you feel your mind racing, you don’t know where to start on the to-do list, you forgot to move the ELF, or you just simply notice tension in your body, pause and reconnect with where you are.
Try one of these techniques:
- The 5-4-3-2-1 Method:
- Name 5 things you can see around you.
- Identify 4 things you can touch.
- Notice 3 things you can hear.
- Acknowledge 2 things you can smell.
- Recognize 1 thing you can taste.
This is a sensory check-in helps you feel rooted in the here and now.
- Audible Breath Work: Take a deep breath in through your nose, then exhale with an audible sigh. It’s like the natural sigh we may do when we are tired or overwhelmed. Repeat this three or four times, letting the sound and rhythm bring calm to your body and mind. Feel your shoulders drop and your chest expand as you release tension.
Step 2: Define Your Purpose
Once you’re grounded in the present, ask yourself this simple but powerful question:
What is my deepest desire for this holiday season?
Take a moment to reflect. Your answer might sound like:
- “I want to feel more connected to my family.”
- “I want to savor the little moments of joy.”
- “I want to create space for rest and recharge.”
- “I want to really embody the meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus and put my faith first and foremost.”
This step shifts your focus from feeling like you are just managing chaos to actually prioritizing what’s meaningful to you. Try writing it down! This can help solidify it in your mind.
Step 3: Imagine the Possibilities
Now, visualize what it would look like to make choices over these next few weeks that really align with your purpose. Close your eyes and picture your ideal holiday. What’s happening? How do you feel? Who is with you? What’s different from years past? Or maybe even different than it’s been the last few weeks?
By painting this image, you create a positive goal to aim for—a vision that can guide your decisions and help you say “no” to the things that don’t fill your cup and “yes” to what aligns with your ideal holiday vision.
Putting It All Together
Each day during the holiday season, take five minutes to practice these steps:
- Get present using a grounding technique. (activate the parasympathetic nervous system! a win-win for managing cortisol, too… think breath work, the 5-4-3-2-1, yoga, prayer, meditation, a walk outside without being on the phone)
- Define your purpose for the day or week. Make it a mantra. Write it down in your journal! This is going to be your “North Star”, when things feel overwhelming. (Mine is going to be presence over presents! Maybe I’ll tell everyone “your gift is my presence”, ha! Kidding… but not really.)
- Imagine the possibilities and take one small step towards that. (For example, if you want more meaningful time with family this season maybe you plan a dinner at your house, and play a family-centered game together, or cook a meal together. No presents, just everyone’s presence…)
A Holiday That Nourishes You
This practice isn’t about controlling every detail of the holidays. Instead, it’s about showing up as your best, most grounded self and making choices that reflect what matters to you. By focusing on presence, purpose, and possibility, we can prevent the holiday burnout, exhausted mode and create a season that truly feels like a gift—to yourself and your people!
Take a deep breath. This holiday season, you have the power to make it meaningful AND maybe even restorative.
What is your deepest desire for this holiday season?
