Tis the Season to be Joyful...Anxious and Exhausted

Christmas can be a whirlwind of to-dos, expectations, and social juggling. For some, it means spending time with people we wouldn’t normally choose to be around. For others, the over-indulgence and disrupted routines can cause havoc and anxiety. It can be lovely and exhausting at the same time.

Prioritising rest

This year, I’m prioritising rest more than ever. I’ve said no to a few things, which means reminding the guilty part of me to take a back seat. There are only so many carol concerts and mulled wines I can manage before it stops feeling fun.

Rest for me looks simple: reading a book, a family game, a walk, or just chatting with my partner. No small talk required, no rushing, nothing to “achieve”. I’ve even put this rest time in the calendar to add some sort of balance to the jam-packed December schedule. Rest looks different to us all - might be worth thinking about what it means to you.

The gift of micro-meditating

I’ve also been relying on what I call micro-meditation. We all know meditation is good for us, but trying to find twenty minutes a day to do it can feel like another pressure. So instead, before I move on to the next thing, be it finishing sessions before the school run, or getting back in the car after the food shop, I pause. A few slow breaths. A quick check-in: Where’s the tension? What do I need right now? What’s going on for me?

It takes less than two minutes and it stops me mindlessly bumping from one thing to another, pulling me out of my head and back into the present. It’s a small reset, and over time it really adds up. Like everything, it takes practice, but I hope this small act of micro-meditation can be a gift for yourself.

And if 2026 feels like the right time to look after your mental health a little more intentionally, contact me to find out more about in-person sessions in Abbotskerswell and Newton Abbot. If staying at home feels easier or more comfortable, I also work with clients online.