4 Ways To Stay Consciously Calm This Holiday Season`

Posted on Dec 2, 2024 | 0 comments

The holiday season can be a time of joy and connection, but it can also bring up feelings of stress, anxiety, and even trauma for some people. For those who have experienced loss, hardship, or other difficult circumstances, the holidays may be a bit overwhelming rather than a time for celebration. Staying consciously calm can be a challenge!

To help lower trauma and cultivate a sense of well-being during this time, here are four tips that may offer support.

4 Ways To Stay Consciously Calm This Holiday Season

Set Boundaries and Prioritize Self-Care

Setting clearboundaries is essential for maintaining your mental and emotional well-being during the holidays. It’s important to recognize when you need a break from social gatherings, family dynamics, or certain traditions that may trigger negative feelings. Saying “no” to obligations, whether they’re related to work, family events, or social engagements, is a healthy way to protect your emotional state.

Additionally, prioritize self-care by carving out time for activities that help you recharge. This might include meditation, journaling, or simply taking a walk outside. Listening to your body and mind is key – if you feel overwhelmed, take a step back and engage in calming activities that help center you.

2. Practice Mindfulness and Grounding Techniques to Stay Consciously Calm

Mindfulness and grounding techniques can be powerful tools for managing trauma-related stress during the holidays. These practices help you stay present in the moment and prevent overwhelming feelings from taking over. One easy grounding technique is the 5-4-3-2-1 method, where you focus on identifying five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. This technique helps anchor you to the present and reduces the feeling of being emotionally flooded. It is one of my favorites that I use all the time to calm anxiety and get back to present.

Mindfulness also involves focusing on your breath and gently redirecting your attention when difficult emotions arise. Taking slow, deep breaths throughout the day can be incredibly soothing, especially in moments of high stress.

Take some time to get outside to connect with nature as well. Just putting your feet to earth for 5 minutes can be a game changer, whether it is in the grass, dirt, mud, beach, salt water – it helps. Read more on grounding here. Definitely one of my favorite biohacks!!

3. Seek Support and Stay Connected

It’s important to lean on your support system, whether that’s family, friends, or a mental health professional to stay consciously calm. Having someone to talk to about your feelings can make a significant difference in managing holiday-related stress or trauma. You don’t have to go through this time alone, and opening up to others can provide emotional relief.

4. Create New Traditions

For those who associate the holiday season with painful memories, creating new traditions can provide a sense of empowerment and healing. Whether it’s starting a new family ritual, taking a trip, or volunteering to help others, establishing new experiences that reflect your current values and needs can help transform your relationship with the holidays. This shift can reduce the emotional burden of past trauma by providing a positive focus for the season. Our new 2024 tradition that I started this year is to give all those that I love a silly holiday t-shirt for the season, we open it the day after Thanksgiving as we put all the decorations out!

By setting boundaries, practicing mindfulness, seeking support, and creating new traditions, you can lower the impact of trauma and make the holiday season a more peaceful and healing time for yourself. Keep shining bright on your journey, I know you got this!

If you want a little extra support, click here, I got you!

Happy Holidays!

Malibu Mama Loves Xx