Managing Holiday Stress

The holidays and the end of the year can be exciting and busy times but they can also bring on a lot of unexpected stress and emotion. By taking a few minutes to just sit, breathe, and experience the present moment, we can arm ourselves with the resilience needed to not only survive but thrive during this busy time of year. So find a comfortable spot where you can relax and simply enjoy a few moments of quiet during this festive season.

Transcript

Hi, And welcome to this meditation practice for managing holiday stress. The holidays and end of the year can be an exciting and busy time, But they can also bring on a lot of unexpected stress and emotion. By taking a few minutes to just sit, Breathe, And experience the present moment, We can arm ourselves with the resilience needed to not only survive, But thrive during this busy time of year. So let's begin by settling into a comfortable position. Allow your eyes to close and begin to notice your breath. Let it bring your awareness inward with its inhale and the exhale. Allow yourself to be soothed by the rhythm of the breath in your body. Notice the chest and belly expanding with your breath in and contracting with your breath out. Feeling yourself into your body's natural rhythm. Allow your breath to calm you. Let it bring you here fully to this moment. Now begin to scan your body, Beginning with the crown of your head and ending with your toes. Let it bring you here fully to this moment. Allow every part of your body to relax and grow heavy against the surface beneath you. Notice if you're holding tension anywhere. If you're stiff across the hips or the shoulders, See if you can soften into this area a little bit. If you're clenching the jaw, Relax this area by allowing the lips to fall open just a bit and let the tongue relax. Let your eyes be heavy as if you're falling asleep. Observe whether you're holding on to negative feelings or anxious thoughts. This might manifest as knots in the stomach, A clenched jaw, Or even trembling hands. Simply notice and acknowledge these sensations without judging them. See if you can simply be a curious observer of your present moment experience. Begin to ask yourself what you need in this moment. Do you need rest to feel safe, Comfort, Or grace? As you reflect on what you need right now, Take a moment here to offer yourself some compassion. As you continue breathing gently, Place your right hand in the center of your chest. This helps to soothe both your mind and body by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system. Next start to send your breath to any areas that may be holding tension or discomfort. For example, If you feel tightness in your chest or throat, Visualize gently sending the breath there. Allow the breath to nourish and heal your body. Let it calm you, Make you feel lighter and more expansive. Let the breath fill you with feelings of warmth and ease. Now, Begin to broaden your mind. Now begin to broaden your awareness. Become aware of the points of contact between your body and the surface beneath you. Begin to bring some movement to the body by wiggling the fingers and toes or rolling the shoulders. And when you're ready, Gently open your eyes. Thank you so much for practicing with me. You can revisit this meditation as often as you need in order to let go of holiday stress and tension. I'm wishing you a magical holiday season my friend. Take care.