Embrace Calm Amidst the Holiday Hustle: A Gift to Yourself This Season

As Christmas approaches, it’s easy to get lost in the rush of holiday prep—decorating, shopping, and hosting. But what if this year, you made time for yourself? Consider carving out moments to reflect, recharge, and focus on your own peace and well-being amidst the holiday hustle. Imagine stepping into the New Year 2025 with a sense of calm, focus, and renewed energy. What small change could you make today to gift yourself that peace?

This time of year brings all the usual demands of life, along with a long list of extra holiday preparations. Keeping calm and going at your own pace is a good reminder.

There are only 24 hours in a day. To manage everything well, we need to make sure we’re able to recharge, so we can handle our responsibilities efficiently and enjoyably.

This means we can only fit as much into our day as we have the energy for. It’s all about choosing where to put our time and how we spend those hours. Often, it means letting go of some things to make space for others. It’s a daily juggling act—deciding where to focus our time and attention.

And it’s so worthwhile to carve out even just 30 minutes to recharge, to replenish our mental and emotional reserves. Let’s be honest and not tell ourselves that we can’t find 30 minutes—it’s often less about time and more about priorities. We spend more time scrolling than we care to admit, but if we want to find that time, we absolutely can. It’s about making intentional choices.

We often tell ourselves we don’t have those 30 minutes, that we’re too busy, and that it just can’t be done. But if we make the choice, put in a little effort, and let go of something else to make space for rest, then yes, we absolutely can make it happen. It’s about managing balance — there are times we feel steady and times we feel unsettled, with moments of stability appearing as points along the way.

I believe that many of us probably give more to others than we give to ourselves – I often hear this in my work with people and I know it from my own life experience. So, how is it for you?

And isn’t it strange that today we find 30 minutes — or even more—for social media, scrolling, spending time with people who don’t make us feel our best, or doing things we don’t enjoy, but we struggle to make time for what truly supports our health, like rest, good sleep, or activities that bring us joy?

There are countless ways to rest, and that’s great because we’re all different. Each of us can choose something that fits our lifestyle, finances, and schedule. What matters is that it’s real rest—when your mind can fully detach from daily stresses, focus on something uplifting, and simply let go.

Here are a few free, simple ways to relax:

• Get a good night’s sleep – your brain needs rest
• Take a nice walk
• Practice deep breathing
• Put on your favourite calming song
• Try gentle stretching
• Slowly drink a glass of water
• Listen to a relaxation hypnosis track (sign up for my newsletter to receive a free one)

So, I invite you—if you feel like it—to take a moment to rest before you run into festive madness.

I wish you, and all of us, a season of holiday preparations filled with an atmosphere that supports you — one where you find enjoyment rather than exhaustion, frustration, or anxiety.

Letting go of what doesn’t serve us is a form of care.

May this holiday preparation time bring you joy because you’re doing things your way, at your own pace, in a way that feels right for you. Let’s avoid burning out our inner batteries so that when the holidays finally arrive, we can sit back, feel at peace, and truly enjoy them.

Take care and stay warm!

Marta