Do you feel a mix of excitement and stress as the holiday season approaches? The scent of pine trees, the froth of hot cocoa, the croon of Bing Crosby—these hallmark the holidays, but for many of us, so does a sense of overwhelm. If your holiday season has become more hectic than happy, let’s redefine it with practical steps toward calm.
According to the American Psychological Association, nearly 69% of people feel stressed by the perceived lack of time during the holidays. This year, let’s shift our holiday experience with intentional actions that bring calm over chaos.
Understanding Holiday Stress and How to Overcome It
From the expense of holiday shopping (and the hours of gift wrapping) to the expectations and dynamics of family gatherings, it’s no wonder we feel overwhelmed this time of year. Often, we put pressure on ourselves to “do it all,” which turns busyness into stress, making the holidays something we dread.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. By setting clear intentions, you can reclaim your time, your energy, and your holidays.
Simple Practices to Reclaim Your Holidays
How you reclaim your time and energy this holiday season is up to you—but here are some simple, actionable steps to get you started:
Set Your Day’s Intention
Starting every day with an intention—such as choosing calm even amid holiday chaos—can shift your experience. For example, your intention could be, “Today, I choose to embrace peace over perfection” or “I will find moments of joy amid the busyness.” Try setting an alarm on your phone as a reminder to repeat this intention throughout the day.
Breaks to Breathe
Regular breaks are beneficial for your body, mind, and spirit. Whenever you take a break for a snack or meal, make it intentional. Notice how your body feels, breathe into any areas holding tension, and exhale deeply. This simple pause can help reset your energy and relieve stress.
End Your Day Mindfully
Rather than winding down with a glass of wine or Netflix, try an evening ritual that truly restores your energy. It could be five minutes of meditation, 15 minutes of journaling, or a soothing bath. Whatever time you have is enough to create calm and center yourself.
Prioritize What Matters
Our loved ones may have high expectations for the holidays, or we may hold ourselves to impossible standards. Reflect on what truly matters this season: Is a picture-perfect holiday necessary, or is it time spent together that counts? Managing both others' and our own expectations can ease stress and help us focus on what’s meaningful.
Boundaries Are Essential
Communicating what you do or don’t have the capacity for—saying “no” when needed—is key to managing stress. Tune in to how an invitation or request feels in your body. If it feels expansive, it may be a yes; if restrictive, it’s probably a no. Respecting these boundaries helps maintain balance and peace.
Rest for Resilience
Sleeping better tonight prevents stress tomorrow. Try integrating functional scent into your evening ritual to activate the parasympathetic nervous system and prime your body and mind for deeper sleep—our Evening Body Serum and Evening Aromatherapy Candle are our go-tos.
Embrace a Calmer Holiday Season
The holidays are inherently busy—but reclaiming them doesn’t have to be. Start by integrating these small, intentional actions where you can, and watch as stress falls away like tinsel from a Christmas tree.
Looking Ahead
Ready for more ways to bring calm into your holiday season? Join us for the next article in our Holiday Wellness Series, where we’ll explore creating meaningful traditions that bring joy and reduce stress. Subscribe to our newsletter and make each moment of your holiday season meaningful and stress-free.
ABOUT L’BEAUXTIQUE
If you haven’t met us yet, we’re L’Beauxtique. Founded by a Certified Professional Aromatherapist, and formulated by a Clinical Aromatherapist, our science-backed functional scents calm body, mind and soul—because twenty-first-century life doesn’t.
RELATED PRODUCTS
Leave a comment