Your Holiday Stress Toolbox: Finding Calm and Rest in the Holiday Bustle

December can be a beautiful month, but it can also be exhausting. Between family gatherings, school events, shopping, and late nights, it’s easy for both adults and children to feel frazzled, overwhelmed, and tired. For some, the shift from fall into winter can affect sleep: difficulty falling or staying asleep, vivid dreams, or even restless movements at night. When the body is already carrying stress, seasonal change can make bedtime feel like a battle.

The good news is that you don’t have to wait until January to feel rested. You can create a personal “holiday stress toolbox”—a set of practices and routines designed to support calm, energy, and restorative sleep for the whole family.

Even in the bustle of holiday gatherings, your body deserves calm, comfort, and restorative rest.

Prioritize Sleep: Routines Are Everything

Sleep is not just rest; it’s a form of renewal. The nervous system uses this time to process the day, repair the body, and restore emotional balance. Creating consistent bedtime and wake-up times is the first step in protecting this sacred space.

For adults, this might mean:

• Turning off screens an hour before bed.

• Creating a calming evening ritual like a warm shower, reading, or journaling.

• Preparing your environment: soft lighting, soothing scents, and a comfortable sleeping space.

For children, routines provide predictability, which supports emotional regulation:

• A consistent bedtime and wake-up schedule.

• Quiet activities before bed, like storytelling, drawing, or gentle music.

• Limiting stimulating activities, sugar, and screen time in the evening.

  
  

When children unwind with calm activities, their bodies learn it’s safe to rest.

Even small, consistent habits signal to the body that it’s safe to rest and help everyone wake up feeling more grounded.

Tools to Calm the Body and Mind

Stress often shows up in the body first—tight shoulders, a clenched jaw, or racing thoughts. Somatic mindfulness is a practical way to notice and release tension, reconnecting with your body before it overwhelms your mind. Some tools you can try include:

• Breathwork: Inhale through the nose for four counts, exhale through the mouth for eight counts.

• Longer exhalations help release tension and signal safety to the nervous system.

• Grounding Exercises: Name five things you see, four things you feel, three things you hear, two things you smell, and one thing you taste. This shifts attention away from worry and into the present moment.

• Finger Tracing or Tapping: Slowly trace your fingers or tap lightly on your body to bring awareness back into your physical self.

• Gentle Stretching: Loosen shoulders, neck, and hips where stress often accumulates.

When we slow down together, our bodies remember how to feel safe and grounded.

For children, these practices can be adapted playfully—tracing fingers along their hands while breathing deeply, or noticing sounds and textures in their room before bedtime.

Self-Care Practices for Holiday Survival

The holidays are full of external pressures: gift buying, social obligations, family dynamics, and even financial stress. Protecting your energy is essential. Consider:

• Setting Boundaries: It’s okay to say “no” to invitations or extra tasks that will overextend you.

• Prioritizing Yourself: Even short moments of quiet, walks outside, or reading time can restore calm.

• Managing Social Media: Limit exposure to highlight reels that create comparison or pressure.

• Mindful Moments: Pause to notice the smells, sights, and sounds around you—the glow of lights, the scent of pine, the warmth of a mug of tea.

Children thrive when we make space for quiet, grounding moments—especially during the holidays.

Children can benefit from similar strategies: providing breaks during social events, quiet spaces for downtime, and predictable routines that help them feel safe and secure.

Building Your Holiday Stress Toolbox

A toolbox is personal—it should include what actually works for you and your family. Examples might include:

• For the body: Stretching, baths, cozy socks, warm drinks.

• For the mind: Journaling, reading, guided relaxation.

• For the heart: Meaningful connection, quiet time, or creative play.

  
  

This gingerbread house Daniel and I made years ago reminds me how simple traditions help children feel grounded, connected, and calm during the holidays.

Using these tools consistently, even in small ways, helps you move through the season with more calm, clarity, and energy.

A Gentle Reminder

You don’t have to “do it all” to have a meaningful, joyful holiday. Taking care of yourself is not selfish—it is essential. By giving yourself and your family the gift of routines, somatic mindfulness, and practical self-care, you can navigate December with presence, patience, and resilience.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year—may your season be filled with calm, comfort, and moments that warm the heart.

This holiday season, let your toolbox be your anchor. When the bustle of the holidays starts to rise, reach for the tools you’ve practiced. Slow your breath, ground your body, nurture yourself, and remember: small steps toward calm add up to big relief for both mind and body.

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