The holiday season brings a mix of joy, connection, and hopeful anticipation for many people, but the holidays also can bring packed schedules, family pressures, disrupted routines, financial stress, loneliness, and memories that stir up emotions. It’s very common to feel pulled in many directions at once, and just as common to notice that your usual coping strategies get tossed to the side. This is why having simple, practical self-care routines matters. These small practices can help you stay grounded, regulated, and connected to what you truly need during the season.
Here are a few simple, evidence-informed practices that can support your overall well-being during the holidays.
- Protect your energy with boundaries.
The holidays tend to fill quickly with invitations, obligations, and requests for your time. It’s okay to decline or modify plans to support your emotional health. Try creating “protected time” in your calendar for rest to balance your social obligations. Healthy boundaries are an essential form of self-care and not a luxury.
- Maintain your sleep and eating routines.
Travel, gatherings, and late nights often disrupt your body’s natural rhythms. Aim for consistent sleep times, balanced meals, and hydration. These basic habits have a meaningful impact on mood, attention, and stress tolerance. - Build in quiet moments.
Even five minutes of mindfulness, deep breathing, light stretching, or stepping outside for fresh air can reset your nervous system. Consider a brief morning or evening routine that helps you center yourself before and/or after holiday activities. - Stay connected to supportive people.
Social support is one of the strongest predictors of resilience and holidays typically highlight the importance of community, and for many, the absence of it. Connection doesn’t have to mean attending every gathering. Small intentional interactions can be just as meaningful. Whether it’s a phone call with a friend, a text check-in, planning a low-pressure activity such as a walk/coffee/or virtual hangout, or scheduling time with a therapist, prioritize relationships that feel steady and safe. - Be intentional about traditions.
Not all holiday traditions need to be preserved. Reflect on which rituals bring meaning and which ones feel heavy or stressful. Give yourself permission to simplify or create new traditions that align with your values and current emotional needs. - Practice self-compassion.
If the holidays bring mixed emotions, like grief, loneliness, stress, or fatigue, know that this is common. Rather than pushing these complex feelings away, try responding to yourself with the same kindness you would offer to someone you care about.
The holidays can be emotionally demanding, but support is available. If you’re noticing heightened anxiety, difficulty coping, or you just want to feel more grounded, therapy can be a helpful space to reflect, feel supported, and build strategies that work for you. You don’t have to navigate this season alone.
Lorine Margeson, Psy.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist