12/27/2025
The holidays can look shiny on the outside—and feel heavy on the inside. You’re not alone if this season brings stress, sadness, pressure, or overload instead of joy. 🎄
Why holiday stress hits so hard?
It could be one of the reasons below or all of them at once:
High expectations: Be happy. Be grateful. Be social. can be really exhausting .
Family dynamics: Old wounds, boundaries ignored, pressure to “keep the peace for family’s sake.
Financial strain: Gifts, travel, meals—it adds up fast.
Grief & loneliness: Missing people, missing how things used to be.
Sensory overload: Noise, crowds, constant activity, disrupted routines.
Signs it’s affecting you could manifest in :
Feeling irritable, tearful, numb, or anxious
Trouble sleeping or eating
Wanting to withdraw or “disappear”
Body tension, headaches, tight chest.
All of that is a stress response, not a personal failure.
Here are few gentle ways to cope :
1. Lower the bar, on purpose.
“Good enough” holidays count. You don’t owe anyone a performance.
2. Create micro-boundaries
Even 10 minutes alone, a short walk, or stepping outside to breathe helps reset your nervous system.
3. Choose one anchor ritual
A cup of tea in silence, a candle, soft music, a short meditation—something that’s just for you.
4. Name what’s true
Instead of “I should be happier,” try:
“This is a hard season for me—and that makes sense.”
5. Stay connected in small ways.
One safe person. One honest message. One moment of being real.
6. Grounding exercise to do in tome t to ease anxiety and panic attack .
Ground for 60 seconds
Put both feet on the floor.
Inhale slowly through your nose for 4, exhale for 6 (repeat 5 times).
Name 5 things you see, 4 you feel, 3 you hear, 2 you smell, 1 you taste.
7. If grief hits hard (do a 10-minute “wave plan”)
When the wave rises:
1. Hand on chest, slow exhale.
2. Say: “This is grief. It hurts because I loved.”
3. Do one small ritual (choose 1):
Light a candle for them
Hold a photo and say one sentence: “I miss you.”
Write 3 lines: What I miss / What I’m thankful for / What I need today
4. After 10 minutes, do a body reset (wash face, tea, step outside).
8. End the day with a “soft landing” (15–30 minutes)
Choose 2:
Warm shower / bath
Cozy clothes + low lights
Phone on Do Not Disturb
Gentle show, audiobook, or calming music
Write: “One thing I got through today was…”
If today was heavy for you, I hope you know this:
You did enough.
You showed up in the only way you could—and that counts.
Even if you smiled when you didn’t feel like it,
even if you stayed quiet,
even if all you did was survive the day.
May tonight be gentle with you.
May your body soften, your breath slow, and your heart feel a little less alone.
The holidays don’t measure your worth—and they don’t define your strength.
You are allowed to rest now.
Tomorrow can wait.
With love ,
Natalie 💜
