Your Holiday Survival Guide

The last two years have been rough. I know the holidays can bring up mixed feelings, and that’s okay. It’s a time of year where our priorities and the needs of our hearts can be in conflict. The holiday will often bring up:

• our regrets
• our pain
• our self-judgment
• difficult relationship dynamics
• pressure and competing interests
• old stories and memories about ourselves and others
• financial pressure
• feelings of abandonment or low self-worth
• worries around our health and future health
• worries about the future

There is a lot we can’t control. We can feel wired or completely exhausted. Strong emotion requires a lot of our own physical energy, and so you might need more sleep, or water or even just more quiet alone time.  At a busy time of year where those instincts can be difficult to honour, here’s a short list of my favourite grounding activities when I need to check in with myself, process my emotions, and honour my body:

1. A quiet time just for you – mine is just before bed for 5-10 minutes, and I do a small body-supported meditation with Headspace.
2. One body movement practice you can do for 20-30 minutes a few times weekly
3. Adding one vegetable every day to at least one meal
4. Adding fibre to your morning. My pick is psyllium husk.
5. Picking a favourite vehicle or type of water. I like sparkling water, and drink lots of it.
6. Joy. I choose funny movies and movies that warm my heart!
7. Nature. Outside time, hearing the wind…that’s my true medicine.
8. Creative practices. You can rearrange your closet, paint a picture, or put on some nice clothing. Make yourself feel beautiful and appreciated.
9. A body practice. A nice shower with a nice shampoo can be a simple pick-me-up, or a favourite hand lotion after washing your hands.
10. A practice of appreciation. I try to remember what good things I have a few times daily, even if that’s something really small. It’s not to replace the challenges I might feel, but to acknowledge good with the challenging.

Then what happens if something rattles me? I give myself…

1. Permission to feel. Crying, Angry-cleaning, Stomping, Being quiet
2. Acknowledgment. It’s okay to feel rattled.
3. Something supportive. A warm tea, a walk, reading a nice book.

Don’t try to change anyone – be with yourself, love yourself, and remember these moments will have good and bad. Have a wonderful, supportive holiday.