Notice: I’m an affiliate for Amazon as well as other companies. Any links in this article may be affiliate links. I always appreciate it if you purchase something using my affiliate links. Doing so helps me to raise a little extra money that pays for the costs of running this site. And it allows me to continue bringing you quality content, all without costing you a thing! Thanks!
I love the holiday season! In fact, I jokingly tell everyone that I’m part elf because I love it so much. For me, it’s not about getting gifts. I love the decorations, the music, the movies, the parties, the laughter, the fun, and spending time making memories with people I care about. The season itself brings me joy. But this year I also felt the inner call to place more importance on finding stillness during the hustle and bustle of the season.
The holiday season is usually a pretty high vibrational time of year for me. It brings me SO much joy! But one thing that exhausts me and depletes me during the holidays is the sheer business and chaos of the season. As a singer, it’s often a time of year when there is a whole lot of go, go, GO!
But when you’re energy sensitive like me, that can drain your energy reserves pretty quickly. And it can even leave you sick! I’ve often found that to be true. In the past, the holidays were often so packed for me that once I did finally have a chance to slow down I was always knocked out by a nasty virus, which often lasted for a week…or longer! There’s nothing worse than being stuck in bed on Christmas Day with a fever, feeling downright yucky!
Finding stillness
This year I felt a very different calling from my soul. I’ve found that more and more I’m being called to simplify my life. To cut out the things that don’t align with who I really am and to find a more simple way of being in the world. For me, it’s time to cull much of the external business from my life so that I can spend more time being, rather than doing.
We live in an age where many people are so busy that they neglect some of the most important things in their lives…spending time connecting with people they care about and neglecting their own wellbeing. We wear our busyness like a badge of honor. And yet, more often than not, the tasks we accomplish in the act of being busy aren’t aligned with our soul purpose and have relatively little meaning in our lives at all.
So I’ve made it a point to be intentional with my time this December. I’ve taken a good deal of time each day to be quiet and still. I’ve meditated more and I’ve consciously taken time to practice gratitude daily. I made the choice to not buy a lot of “stuff” this holiday season and instead give my loved ones something different. I gave them experiences and I gave them my time. I’ve limited my time in front of electronics and spent time out in nature when possible. It’s amazing how much that’s changed my experience of the holidays this year. I’ve been able to connect with a much more profound and deeper feeling of love and joy this holiday season!
Ways for finding stillness during the holiday season
Make time for meditation
Can you find 15 minutes each day to quiet your mind, slow down your thoughts and be present with yourself? Meditation is a powerful way to connect with yourself, lower stress, and be present in the moment. It is one of the best forms of self-care out there! And it’s the ultimate act of quietness and stillness as well.
Overcoming FOMO
The fear of missing out (FOMO) is a type of social anxiety that causes people to worry that if they don’t participate in a social activity, then others who do with have meaningful experiences or fun without them. This is a growing trend in the social media driven world. Because of FOMO, more and more people overcommit themselves to social events. This leads to exhaustion and becoming overwhelmed, particularly during the holidays. Social media has made the issue worse. It causes people with FOMO to check their accounts excessively throughout the day, becoming an addiction.
But you can begin to overcome the fear of missing out by appreciating your life as it is. FOMO is based on unhappiness over what your life is or is not. But when you begin to find appreciation for everything you have in your life, the unhappiness lessens.
Learning that saying “no” to some things is okay
You’ve finally overcome FOMO, but now you’re struggling to turn down some holiday invitations even though your calendar is already overloaded. Somehow along the way we’ve learned that saying no to things is bad. We don’t want others to feel bad if we have to turn down their invitation. And so we feel guilty when we even think about having to send regrets. When this happens your put yourself and your needs last! But learning to say no is actually a good thing! If you are used to always being a “yes” person, it can take some practice. And can even feel a bit uncomfortable when you first start. But you must make taking time for yourself a priority when your calendar is full, even if others don’t understand.
Take some time off of social media
How much time are you spending on social media? Screen time can be a big drain on your time and energy! And it pulls you away from the time you need to spend doing self-care. All of that extra external stimulation also makes you even more tired! So make a conscious effort to reduce your social media usage during the holidays. This can help you free up some time to spend being still and quiet, and connecting with yourself.
Get out in nature!
There is nothing like the quiet and stillness you can find on a nice walk through the woods…or down a country lane. If you can take some time outside (weather permitting of course), away from the throngs of holiday shoppers and revelers, the easier it will be for you to spend some time in silence with yourself.
Finding stillness with someone
Connection and making memories with those you care about are so important during the holidays. And you can do that by inviting someone over for a cup of cocoa and some great conversation. Sometimes these small moments, connecting in stillness with another soul are more memorable than a big party or an expensive gift.
These are just a few ways that you might find to allow some quiet and stillness into your days during the holiday season. But it all starts with making the conscious choice to make finding stillness…and yourself a priority! When you do, it can help you to bring in more meaning during such a busy season.
