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As defined by brands and advertisers, the holidays mean socializing, decorating, gift buying, cooking, traveling, and forced socializing. For many of us, that feels like barely contained chaos.
It can be lovely to share elements of this with friends and family in the spirit of giving and gratitude and all of that. But it’s entirely too easy, amid the endless tasks and commitments, to lose yourself and forget about the things that keep you sane. And even though you swore that this year would be different, nothing is going to change unless you have a strategy in place.
Try this: Start the holiday gauntlet the same way you start your yoga practice—pause for a moment, slow your breath, and let everything else recede. Just for one minute. Repeat as needed through the end of the year. And explore some of the following ways you can integrate other lessons from yoga to help make the holidays more manageable.
How to Make the Holidays Less Overwhelming
Don’t forget to let yourself enjoy those things you choose to do and attend. And when all else fails, don’t hesitate to RSVP no.
1. Set an Intention
Just as you set an intention for your yoga practice, it’s a great idea to set an intention for the holiday season, too. Gratitude is a sorta obvious intention for Thanksgiving, but find something or someone that you truly appreciate and focus on that. After the leftovers are gone, choose an intention that means something to you and meditate on it through the end of the year. Remember it every time you hear holiday music blasting or see another holiday sale in your email inbox to keep you grounded. (Take that, Holiday Consumerism!) Stay the course.
2. Make Time for Your Practice
Yes, you’re busier than usual. There are trees to be trimmed, gifts to be purchased, cookies and pies and more to be baked, and a thousand other excuses to skip out on your yoga and meditation practices. Don’t overlook those practices that help you feel more like, well, you. Even if you have only five or 10 minutes, practicing will release some of that excess tension and help you draw on your calm—and maybe even your sense of humor—even when things get crazy.
3. Tap into Community
For a lot of people, the holidays are about spending time with family. Why not celebrate your friends and yoga buddies, too? You don’t have to plan yet another holiday party—just make a point to check in, share a laugh, and support each other—especially as things get busier in the coming weeks!
4. Be Mindful
The holidays give you many unique opportunities to pause for a second before reacting to a situation so that you can instead respond mindfully. That applies to when you shop, schedule—or overschedule—yourself, and interact with family. If you let your intuition guide you, you won’t have to stress or wonder whether you should have said that to your opinionated aunt.
5. Take Care of Yourself
Of course, you want to help others feel appreciated during the holidays, but it’s more important than ever to make sure you get enough rest and take some time for yourself, too. Put your legs up the wall, take a soothing bath, get to a yoga class or take 10 minutes to practice at home—just make sure you get some time away from all the stimulation so you can rejuvenate.
This article has been updated. Originally published November 23, 2010.