Holiday Survival Tips 🥂

I’ve got just one question for you: did you get triggered at your holiday gathering?

Whether its family dynamics, food sensitivities, feeling unhappy when the rest of the world seems happy, or something else, family gatherings and the holidays have a way of pushing our buttons.

If you are feeling crummy, down, or exhausted, just know you’re not alone.

Holiday seasons at best are stressful and at worst are downright difficult.

Here are a few survive and thrive tips to make it through in one piece, and perhaps more whole than before:

1-Don’t forget self-care. It’s not a luxury, it’s required! In order to serve others, you must serve yourself. If you are calm, cool and collected, you’ll be able to handle the ups and downs life throws at you with much more grace and resilience. Don’t let it slide.

2-Keep the planner. When out of your daily routine for days off, make sure to plan your needs into your day. Exercise, meditation, prepping healthy meals deserve a space in your schedule. Life has a way of happening and we have a way of losing track of time. By making your needs a priority, they are much more likely to happen.

3-When triggered, go within. I could probably write a book on this one! When something happens and you get triggered (feel huge emotion coming up or get reactive in a way that seems out of magnitude to the events of the moment), don’t look outside, look inside! The universe is shining a light on something that needs to be known, felt, acknowledged, and let go. Once you get present for a few moments and allow this energy to come to your awareness, you’ll immediately start to feel lighter and freer.

4-You deserve to feel good. Repeat after me. You deserve to feel good. It doesn’t have to be hard! It’s time to start recognizing and allowing joy, even if they are tiny, fleeting moments. Lean in and allow it. In no time, you’ll be able to anchor more, bigger joy. Beautiful sunrise, a child lending a hand, a friend checking on you, an opportunity for a quiet moment…allow yourself to feel the beauty of these moments. Just 30 to 60 seconds will do the trick.

5-If stuck, do this. We all get derailed, stuck, grumpy. In a moment of unease, take just five minutes to do a mini reset. Grab a piece of paper and something to write with, a small scrap or a napkin will do in a pinch. Now, take a couple deep breaths to center, try to clear your mind as best you can. If any emotion pops up, allow it. Then, list three things you are grateful for. Now list three things that are awesome about you. This should take just a few moments and can flip your day, if you let it. Feeling gratitude boosts serotonin, one of our feel-good neurotransmitters. Use this simple exercise as a reboot. For extra credit, do it each night before bed as you reflect on your day.

Holidays can be stressful, demand much of you, and be an opportunity for triggering. If you can leverage any triggering for healing, you’ll end in a higher-vibe place than you began. And that, my friend, is the definition of spiritual growth and why we are here. To life! 🥂