How to Stop Stressing + Have a Mindful Holiday Season
Updated December 2024 | Originally published October 2022
When holiday to-do’s get added to everything else on your plate, it’s clear this can be the most stressful time of year.
This morning while at my daughter's swim lesson, I overheard other parents talking through their holiday plans. Who's coming to town? When do they arrive? Where will they sleep? What's on the menu? What activities are on the calendar?
As an intuition coach, I help high-achieving women find inner peace through every season. During the holidays, that means prioritizing what’s important, releasing emotions, and trusting yourself in the chaos.
Keep reading for ways to stop stressing what doesn’t matter so you can actually have holidays that are merry, mindful, and magical!
Inside this article — jump to the section that speaks to you.
You’re Not Being Drama, Holiday Stress is Real
According to Motherly's 2021 State of Motherhood survey, 93% of mothers reported feeling burned out — and 16% say they feel burned out all the time. With the holiday countdown officially on, things are about to get a lot more stressful for moms.
The mental load on mothers increases tenfold through the holidays…
Choosing family photo outfits that look nice, but not too matchy-matchy. Decorating the house with kids underfoot. Braving holiday travel to spend time with family. Volunteering for local non-profits. Making memories. Practicing gratitude. Wrapping gifts. Hosting parties. Attending events. Keeping traditions. Doing it all with the never-ending pressure to capture the moment for social media.
It's no wonder a simple Google search on “holiday stress” pulls up these questions:
How to reduce holiday stress and bring mindfulness into the holiday season?
How do I cope with holiday stress?
What are the causes of holiday stress?
You Don’t Have to Just Survive the Holidays
Take a moment to check in and visualize the holiday season of your dreams:
Pause, breathe, and dream about how amazing it would feel to stop rushing.
See yourself truly appreciating the magic in the mundane.
Imagine how meaningful it would be to truly connect with those you love most.
You can have a magical holiday season. You can feel fulfilled as you wrap up the year. You can be excited for the manifestations ahead. Your intuition is ready to guide you to the alignment and actions to get you there.
Your voice of intuition can help you find calm, clarity, and magic, this holiday season.
Tune into your intuition as you make plans, purchase gifts, and decide what you want (and don’t want) to do over the holidays. Use these strategies to connect with your intuition, stop stressing, and get into a merry, mindful mood this holiday season!
8 Ways to Stress Less Through the Holidays
Every year, the holidays arrive with mixed emotions. There’s a lot to celebrate, but the pressure to do everything perfectly can be too much. Stop holiday stress and thrive this season with these tips:
Set your intentions for the season. Decide how you want to feel over the holidays and what energy you want to bring to the season. → Read More: What Does It Mean to Set Intentions?
Prioritize what brings you joy. Pay attention to the people, activities, and places that make you feel joy. Put those at the top of your list and appreciate the good feelings they bring.
Find ways to do less. Remember that it’s okay to say “no” or “not this year.” Your intuition can help you decide where to do less through the holidays. When you feel like you have to do something, tune into your intuition to find out if that’s really true.
Ask for help. We aren’t meant to do everything alone, especially over the holidays. If your mother-in-law offers to wrap a few gifts, welcome her help. If you are feeling overwhelmed, ask your partner or a friend to share the work.
Be more in the moment. When you notice stress creeping in, take a complete inhale and exhale. Remind yourself to focus on the present moment. Being where you are (instead of worrying about what’s next) can help you find the magic in the mundane.
Practice rituals that give you calm. Make these small and accessible. Light a candle. Say a prayer or mantra. Put on lotion before bed. Hug your children when they get home from school. Find tiny rituals and gentle practices that make you feel calm and at ease.
Write a letter to your future self. One of my favorite holiday traditions is writing a letter to my future self. I write it as I pack up our Christmas decorations so I can read it the following year when I unpack everything. I include the things I loved about the season and what I want to do differently. I’ll also write words of encouragement and anything I want to remember. → Listen to the Podcast: My Favorite Holiday Tradition for Cultivating Calm
Release your stress when it comes. Even the best holidays can be overstimulating and stressful. Give yourself grace and compassion and be sure to release your stress when it comes. Go for a walk, talk it out, take a shower, take a nap, or write in your journal.
A Year of Calm
All those self-help audiobooks could be the reason why you’re always stressed.
Instead of trying to fix things about you that aren’t broken, learn to finally trust yourself and drop overwhelm once and for all.
How to Have a Merry, Mindful Season
Your energy is directed outward more than usual during the holidays.
This can be refreshing and wonderful, but it can also be draining and disorienting. Being intentional about the way you take care of yourself can help your holidays be more mindful and merry.
The holidays are not the optimal time for big sweeping changes that require a lot of effort. Instead, incorporate small, gentle actions that feel supportive.
Care for your body. Eat nourishing foods, drink more water, and get enough sleep. And be mindful of the things you say about your body through the holidays. This can be a time of extra indulgences of all kinds — take extra care to appreciate all that your body does for you.
Relax your mind. If the holiday season has you on the go more than usual, give yourself time to unwind. Listen to a podcast while doing a puzzle. Watch a holiday movie without scrolling social media. Pick up a good book. Bundle up and go for an early evening stroll.
Experience your emotions. This time of year can have an extra dash of drama and it can bring up old emotions. Give yourself opportunities to feel your emotions and gather support — book an extra therapy session or schedule An Hour of Intuition.
Embrace the magic. Open your eyes and heart to the magic of this season. Invite serendipity and manifestations. Ask your intuition (and the Universe) for signs, aligned numbers, and joyful surprises. Celebrate tiny moments of magic when they arrive!
Your intuition is the inner voice of wisdom within. When you start listening to your intuition and acting on the guidance you receive, you will feel less overwhelmed and more aligned in daily life.
Keep Reading for More Inspiration
My Favorite Holiday Tradition for Cultivating Calm
‘Tis the season of juggling motherhood, holidays, business, feelings, relationships, and all the things. Flow through the stress of the season with this inspiring holiday tradition.
About Kaileen Elise Sues
Hi, I'm Kaileen! Intuition coach, host of the Celebrate Cultivate podcast, and mom of three. Before learning to listen to my inner voice, I was a perfectionist always on the edge of overwhelm.
This practice has changed everything. It’s helped me heal old wounds, navigate daily dramas, manifest magic, and live with a deep sense of inner peace. That's why I became a coach — to help others access intuition, trust what they hear, and act from there.
