Hey this is Dana Mitchell and I want to welcome you to episode three of my Holiday Emotions series.
If you've listened to episode one or two then you already know that the holidays aren't always filled with the joy-filled storybook scenes that the world tries to sell us.
Holidays can be filled with emotions,
Expectations,
Old memories,
And sometimes a whole lot of invisible pressure.
So today we're shifting from awareness into action and this is gentle action.
This is like choose your own adventure.
I'm going to walk you through a few ways to protect your peace this season so that you're not avoiding life or skipping out on fun but creating a season that actually supports you.
So grab a coffee or a tea and let's get started.
Before I dive in I want you to hear this.
You do not need to do all of these.
These 10 things that I'm about to tell you.
You don't even need to do half.
I am just suggesting choose one or two that makes you feel like a little exhale from your nervous system because these small shifts are enough.
Small shifts can create big emotional relief.
So here are 10 ways to protect your peace during the season.
Number one,
Lower your bar on purpose.
And what I mean by that is pick one,
Just one thing to simplify.
One event to say no to,
One tradition to scale down from,
One task to make a little bit easier.
So lower your bar on purpose.
It's not failure.
It's really a strategy.
Protecting your peace starts with removing unnecessary pressure.
Number two,
Set the tone.
Ask yourself what do I need this year?
What tone do I want to set for these next few weeks?
What feels nourishing and what feels draining?
If your intention is calm or simple or slow,
Let that guide your choices instead of the world setting the pace and you having to keep up.
Number three,
Create a bare minimum holiday list.
Write down three things that matter to you most for this year.
Just three.
Everything else is optional and you're allowed to treat it that way.
Number four,
Notice where comparison sneaks in and step out of it on purpose.
When you're scrolling through social media and everyone is having that magical pajama moment,
Pause,
Exhale and say to yourself that is their season and mine can look a little bit different.
This is the one that really strikes home for me.
Comparison isn't the truth.
It's a story that our minds have created that we're tired or too stretched then.
So you get to choose what your magical moments are.
Number five,
Build a little grounding moment into your day.
Tiny rituals,
Not big routines that are too complicated.
Just 30 seconds of slow breathing.
A cup of tea without any kind of multitasking with it.
Light a candle.
Step outside for fresh air.
Listen to music for a few minutes.
Or if you're into meditations,
Then check out my meditations on Insight Timer.
Number six,
Let yourself feel your feelings without trying to arrange them,
Make sense of them or justify them.
If grief pops in or irritation or loneliness or nostalgia,
It's okay.
You're not doing anything wrong.
Feelings aren't problems to fix.
They're just signals of something that you can dive a little deeper in whenever you are ready for it.
Number seven,
Protect your time like it's a resource because guess what?
It is.
If you need a quiet moment,
Take it.
If you need a slower pace,
That's not selfish.
You're protecting yourself.
Your time is one of the easiest things that can be overspent during the holidays.
Number eight,
Don't volunteer your energy out of guilt.
You don't owe anybody that perfect attendance,
The perfect hosting,
The perfect emotional energy at 100 all the time.
If someone asks you for something and your whole body whispers,
No,
I don't want to do that,
Then listen to it.
Your body is wise.
And if you're given to overflow,
Overdoing it,
Over too much,
Over energy,
Then pay attention to what your body is saying to you.
Number nine,
Build an energy plan for the moments that you know are coming.
Think about the parts of the season that typically drain you,
Crowded stores,
Family tension,
Pressure to have everything done,
Financial stress,
Social overload.
Those are just to name a few.
So make a plan for each.
Take breaks,
Step outside,
Use grounding breaths,
Delay conversations.
I don't know if you have listened to my podcast about pausing,
But that might be one for you.
Number 10,
Excuse yourself early from events or leave a little bit early if you feel inclined to do so.
And set spending boundaries so that you are prepared for whatever spiral may be coming.
Number 10,
Choose one thing that brings you joy and put it on your calendar.
This is not for the kids or for your partner or for the extended family's expectations.
This is something for you,
A craft that you love,
A quiet morning,
A walk,
Listening to your favorite podcast,
A festive event that you really enjoy.
Joy doesn't have to be by accident,
Especially during this busy season.
So schedule it.
That might be your saving grace.
So here's what I want to leave you with.
You are allowed to create a holiday season that fits your life.
Your energy and your emotional bandwidth and your reality for whatever is happening for you right now.
Not the one you grew up with,
Not the Instagram one that's perfect for everybody to see,
And not the one that you think you should,
Quote,
Should be able to maintain.
Just the one that feels doable,
Supportive,
And honest for you for this year.
And you know what?
That version is always enough.
Thank you for being here with me through this mini-series.
And if you haven't listened to the other episodes,
Then you might want to go back and check those out.
If these episodes have been helpful and gave you a little ooh kind of moment or like an aha,
Then please share them with those around you that might be struggling with some of the same things.
I really enjoy spending time with you,
And I hope you have an awesome,
Calm,
Relaxed holiday season.
Thanks again,
And I hope you have a great day.
