Surviving and Thriving During the Holidays

The festive season is a time many of us look forward to all year. And yet, let’s be honest, between catering, organising, travelling, gift buying (and all that wrapping), it’s easy to end up feeling more like a project manager than a participant in the celebrations.

If you’ve ever reached the end of the holidays feeling relieved rather than nourished, you’re not alone. Thriving during this season isn’t about doing more, or doing it perfectly. It’s about staying present enough to actually enjoy the moments that matter.

Here are some simple, grounded ideas to help you stay connected to the joy, not just push through the exhaustion.

Carve Out Time for You

What if, amidst everything else, you scheduled something just for you every day? It doesn’t need to be big or indulgent. Ten minutes of fresh air in the evening. A short walk after lunch. Five minutes of gentle stretching or yoga when you wake up. A brief pause with your feet up in front of the fire before the next task begins.These small acts of self-connection are not selfish, they are restorative.

They help regulate your nervous system, soften stress, and remind you that you matter too. When you care for yourself in small, consistent ways, you show up more grounded and generous for everyone else.

Hydrate (and Make It Feel Like a Treat)

Celebrations often come with a steady flow of wine, beer, bubbles, and festive cocktails. Enjoy them, but balance them. A simple rule of thumb: alternate alcoholic drinks with water. Better yet, make the water feel special. Serve it in a beautiful glass. Add ice, fizzy water, sliced citrus, berries, or fresh herbs. Treat hydration as part of the ritual, not a chore. Staying hydrated supports your energy, sleep, digestion, and mood, all things that can be stretched thin during the holidays.

Know, and Honour Your Limits

You can’t do everything. And you don’t have to.The holidays often awaken old patterns of over-giving, people-pleasing, or carrying the emotional and logistical load for everyone else. Instead, try making it a daily practice to ask for help before you reach empty.

Delegate. Share responsibilities. Let something be “good enough” rather than perfect. Honour your capacity as it is today, not as you wish it were.

Boundaries aren’t barriers to connection; they’re what make sustainable connection possible.

Remember: This Too Shall Pass.

As Ram Dass famously said:

“If you want to know how enlightened you are, spend a week with your family.”

Tensions can rise during this time. Old dynamics reappear. Someone says the wrong thing. A relative behaves badly. You may feel yourself tightening, reacting, or becoming overwhelmed. When that happens, pause. Take a deep breath. Perhaps using a simple box breath (inhale for four, hold for four, exhale for four, hold for four).

Create a moment of space before responding. Then gently remind yourself: this is temporary. This moment, this conversation, this intensity, it will pass.

You don’t need to resolve everything. Sometimes presence, perspective, and a little compassion (for yourself especially) are enough.

The holidays don’t need to be perfect to be meaningful. By tending to your own energy, honouring your limits, and staying present in small ways, you give yourself the chance not just to survive the season, but to truly experience it.

And that, perhaps, is the real gift.