Stay Grounded: Simple Practices for a Peaceful Holiday Season
Stay Grounded: Simple Practices for a Peaceful Holiday Season
Written by Lily Thrope
The holidays often bring situations where more time is spent around family. It can be comforting, festive and wonderful and equally stressful and anxiety-inducing. Tense relationships, family drama, and/or unresolved conflicts can make spending holidays with relatives challenging. These events can be especially difficult if you find yourself struggling to align with your family’s viewpoints and opinions.
If you are looking for some peace during this holiday season, grounding exercises can help you stay calm and present. When navigating hectic schedules, family dynamics, or the pressure to plan the perfect meal, there are simple practices to ground us and enable us to enjoy the season more fully. See below for a few ideas:
5-4-3-2-1 Method.
This is a common grounding method used to reduce anxiety and calm your body and mind. The steps are simple: first, name five things you can see. Then, four things you can feel, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. This practice allows us to find our footing again and become reoriented with our senses and surroundings in the present moment.
Gravitate towards water.
Water is extremely healing. Try taking either a hot or cold shower. If you have access to a larger body of water, try going for a quick swim. At the very least, try running your hands or feet under water and focus on the sensation of the water flowing through your hands.
Maintain healthy habits.
Because the holidays are often about indulging, it is important to maintain balance with healthy habits. See below for a few tips:
Get enough sleep (aim for 7-8 hours a night)
Incorporate joyful movement
Try to be mindful of social media use and how it affects you
Stay hydrated
Breathe.
Try mindfulness techniques, such as meditation or breathing exercises. There are many variations of mindful breathing, such as belly breathing or box breathing, used in stressful moments. Taking deep, intentional breaths and visualizing your breath flowing down your spine and toward your feet can ground you in a stressful situation. Your body and mind benefit from taking time to settle, be present, and re-energize, so you can go on with your busy day.
Acknowledge your emotions.
It’s okay, even common, to feel melancholy, sadness, and grief during the holidays, which is the time when ‘joy’ is the expectation. If you've recently lost or are missing loved ones, holiday time can elicit feelings of grief and sadness. Allow yourself to feel everything. Know that you are not alone.
Grounding exercises are a truly remarkable and effective tool in your commitment of self-care during the holiday season. By taking short breaks and brief moments to reconnect with your body and surroundings, you can approach the holidays with more peace, presence, and indeed, joy.
If you find that grounding techniques aren't enough to manage the stress and emotions that often accompany the holiday season, it may be beneficial to consult with a mental health professional. At Thrope Therapy, we offer in-person and virtual sessions designed to meet you where you are. Schedule your free 15 minute consultation today.
