How To Stay Grounded During the Holidays

It goes by in the blink of an eye, so give yourself the gift of presence.

No matter what tradition you come from, or what holidays you celebrate, you’re probably aware of a LOT of demands on your time right now. This season is like that: a calendar full of parties, outings, dinners, and family gatherings. It’s funny because in trying to be all things to all people, we forget to be present in the moment and before we know it, it’s over and our pants don’t fit anymore.

I’ve often quipped that I’ve been chasing Christmas Eve 1984 for decades. Not the presents or the terrible candy that I used to love, but this distinct memory of myself as a child, sitting around the glow of the Christmas tree with my parents and siblings, where for once, everybody wasn’t trying to move on to the next thing. I’ve been chasing being present in that moment for over 40 years. Sometimes I catch it, sometimes I get lost in my to do list.

Since there’s no reason Zen, which is found in being in the here and now, can’t exist side by side with a religious holiday, it begs the question, what can we do so that we can slow down, be present, and stay grounded in an often hectic and busy time of year? Here’s a few suggestions or gentle reminders so you too can catch that moment with those you love.

• Keep a capture list in your pocket or phone:

It’s not quite a to do list, but rather a list of everything you need to remember for the days or weeks ahead. Whatever the recipe to research, thing to wrap, or the person to call, get it out of your head and onto the capture list. It’s sort of like your brain dump before it all goes into your planner in a more organized way. While it sounds a little obvious, I find it immensely helpful this time of year to be reassured that whatever I have to remember is written down, so I can focus on enjoying the moment.

• Journal for 5-10 minutes when you wake up:

It can be your capture list (though preferably you’ve seen to that before going to bed the night before), what you’re grateful for, a memory, or whatever you like. Taking a moment to start your day thoughtfully helps center you and leave a memory for you in years to come. Now that you’ve finished your coffee, go practice your Qigong.

• Practice Dan Tian breathing:

Whether it’s part of your regular practice or just in the midst of a busy day, Dan Tian breathing builds mental clarity and grounding that we often forget about this time of year. Haven’t learned Dan Tian breathing yet? No worries, just find a quiet place where you can enter into a Qigong state and take ten gentle and deep breaths, letting your belly gently fill as you do so. Emphasis on the word gently. Taking these breaths deep down in us signals to your nervous system to disengage the fight or flight sympathetic and engage the rest and digest parasympathetic.

• Spend a few minutes in Flowing Breeze, Swaying Willows:

Truly if there is one powerful thing you can do come back into the present moment in the midst of chaos, it is Flowing Breeze, Swaying Willows. It’s like a total mental reset when you don’t have the time for a full practice session. The simple act of entering into a Qigong state is so powerful for our mental health and allowing for the gentlest of Qi flows helps to move the blockages accumulated throughout the course of the day.

We love the holidays, but like a child that has had too much fun, they can also make us over-tired and cranky. Keeping a few guardrails in place like maintaining a regular Qigong practice despite all the disruptions and committing to some mental organization ensures that it doesn’t start to feel overwhelming while letting us savor a few moments here and there. If you’re looking for just a little extra support right now, take advantage of the holiday discount going on now through the end of the year. Just plug in the code ‘HOLIDAY30’ at checkout and enjoy 30% off all on demand single courses and course bundles. Happiest of holidays to all of you, and warmest wishes for joy, health, and vitality in the year to come.