5 Essential Tips for Maintaining Mental Peace and Balance During the Holiday Season

The holiday season often brings joy and celebration, but it can also cause stress and anxiety. Between family gatherings, gift shopping, and busy schedules, many people find it hard to maintain mental peace. This post shares five practical tips to help you stay calm, balanced, and well during this hectic time.

Create a Calm Environment at Home

Your surroundings have a big impact on your mental state. During the holidays, your home can become cluttered and noisy, which adds to stress. Take time to create a calm space where you can relax.

• Clear away clutter to reduce visual distractions.

• Use soft lighting like candles or warm lamps instead of harsh overhead lights.

• Play gentle music or nature sounds to soothe your mind. Some peoole can't wait to start playing holiday music as soon as possible!

• Many people love the nostalgia, joy, magic, and happiness of adding some holiday decor. Make this a joy, not an additional stress.

  
  

Plan for dedicated breaks where you can enjoy your space and the beauty of the season

Set Realistic Expectations and Boundaries

Holiday plans often come with high expectations. You might feel pressure to attend every event, buy perfect gifts, or keep everyone happy. This can lead to burnout and disappointment.

• Prioritize what matters most to you and your loved ones. You don't and often can't say yes toeverything.

• Say no to invitations or tasks that feel overwhelming. You don't win any awards for doing it all.

• Communicate your limits clearly with family and friends. You can even do this in writing like email or text if it feels easier to be able to draft, edit, and take time to respond.

• Remember that it’s okay to ask for help or delegate responsibilities.

• Rest if you're sick! Don't pressure yourself to do it all, especially if you're under the weather.

• For those who have experienced the loss of a loved one in the past year, or even earlier, the holidays can be especially painful. Build in time for your grief as this is a normal, human emotion. Consider a holiday memorialization practice such as hanging a special ornament, lighting a candle, displaying a photo, or another meaningful action for you to honor them.

  
  

By setting boundaries, you protect your energy and avoid unnecessary stress. There is no need to bring a homemade potluck dish, or take part in every day of your child's spirit MONTH at school. Pick and choose where your energy goes wisely.

Maintain Healthy Habits

It’s easy to let healthy routines slip during the holidays. Late nights, rich foods, and skipped workouts can affect your mood and energy.

• Aim for consistent sleep by going to bed and waking up at regular times whenever possible.

• Choose balanced meals with plenty of vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Also plan in some guilt free indulgences of your favorite holiday treats.

• Stay hydrated by drinking enough water throughout the day. This is especially helpful as our heaters come on and dry out the air. Add flavors or fruit if drinking water is a struggle for you.

• Keep moving with simple activities like walking, stretching, or yoga. Having appropriate cold weather clothing like layers, hats, gloves, coats, and scarves makes it much easier to convince ourselves to get outside during frigid temperatures.

  
  

Healthy habits support your body and mind, making it easier to handle holiday challenges.

Practice Mindfulness and Stress-Relief Techniques

Mindfulness helps you stay present and reduces anxiety about the past or future. Incorporating stress-relief practices into your day can improve your mental peace.

• Try deep breathing exercises for a few minutes when you feel tense. There are many apps that can help with this!

• Use guided meditation apps or videos to focus your mind.

• Try out a written or online haibit tracker to stay on top of your to-do list, and track water intake, movement, household chores, or other things that benefit your mental health.

• Take short breaks during busy days to stretch or step outside. Take a loop around your office, take the stairs, or notice the changes in nature outdoors as the temperatures shift.

  
  

Even small moments of mindfulness can make a big difference in your mood and resilience.

Connect Meaningfully with Others

Social connections are important for mental wellness, but holiday interactions can sometimes feel stressful or superficial. Focus on quality over quantity.

• Spend time with people who uplift and support you. Have some preprepared responses to keep conversations from becoming contentious. One of my favorites is to change the topic by asking someone about a more neutral topic in their lives. Ask about what shows they've been watching, what they've been up to at work. or if they have any specific plans for the new year.

• Engage in meaningful conversations rather than rushing through events. Unsure how to begin these conversations? There's a plethora of conversation starter lists and even card decks out there.

• Volunteer or help others to create a sense of purpose and joy.

• Limit time with individuals who drain your energy or cause conflict. It's okay to pre-plan an exit time or an exit signal!

  
  

Building positive connections helps you feel grounded and supported during the season.