How to Stay Grounded and Calm over the Holiday Season

A packed schedule of work, gift shopping, cleaning, and cooking. Kids running around the house buzzed on candy canes and hot cocoa. The in-laws visiting, bringing with them a list of demands (and more than a few suggestions about how to run things.) And the chilly weather outside, prohibiting you from getting outdoors for a brisk, mind-clearing walk.

The holiday season can be stressful. Occasionally, it takes every ounce of your energy not to just scream at the top of your lungs. Luckily, though, there are a few tried-and-tested ways to take your mind off the madness – simple tips you can follow to stay grounded and calm.

If you’re stressed, anxious, dispirited, or fatigued this holiday season, consult this list for ways to stay centered.

Find Courage in Vulnerability with This Brené Brown Interview

Often, when you’re at your most vulnerable, you feel ashamed and exposed. But Brené Brown, author of the hit book, Daring Greatly, believes that you can find courage in vulnerability.

If you feel particularly vulnerable this holiday season, listen to the interview Brené Brown gave to Jada Pinkett Smith on Pinkett Smith’s talk show, Red Table Talk. In it, the two (joined by Pinkett Smith’s daughter and mother) share a frank and honest discussion about self-doubt, shame, and guilt – where those feelings come from, and how to overcome them.

It’s a profoundly satisfying watch, one that may not only transform your holiday season but the rest of your life.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep with These Simple Tips

A lack of quality sleep is a significant contributor to stress, fatigue, and irritability. You may not realize it at the time, but that lack of Z’s is undoubtedly having a negative effect on your emotional and mental experience.

To weather the ups and downs of the holiday season, make a concerted effort to get quality sleep each night. Here are a few simple tips for catching the right amount of beauty rest:

• Limit your daytime napping
• Put away the screens an hour before bedtime
• Limit the amount you eat or drink right before bed
• Don’t consume caffeine past the morning (if at all)
• If possible, exercise during the day to promote deeper sleep

Follow those simple steps, and you’ll wake up refreshed, recharged, and ready to greet whatever craziness the holidays throw at you.

Practice Meditation with the Help of a YouTube Channel

With many yoga studios across the country closed due to COVID restrictions, where does a stressed-out person turn to practice breathing, mindfulness, and meditation?

The answer is simple: open up your phone. There are a plethora of great meditation channels on YouTube, like The Mindful Movement, Headspace, and more, that post content daily. Just find the one that suits you the best, then find a quiet place in the home where you can sit cross-legged in peace!

With the help of an inspiring talk show, a centering meditation channel, and a few simple sleep tips, you can stay grounded and calm this winter– even if your in-laws start rearranging stuff in the kitchen!