🎄:Savor the Season: Holiday Survival🎄
- Nancy Naigle
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
A 5-Day Holiday Wellness Plan
Day 1: Let Go of the “Shoulds”
We’ve all heard it... You should bake cookies from scratch. You should host the perfect party. You should say yes to every invite and tradition. But what if the only “should” you listened to was this one: You should do what brings your heart peace. This season, give yourself permission to skip, scale back, or simplify. You don’t have to do it all to enjoy it all.
Day 2: Make a Plan That Fits Your Life
Plan early. Set a holiday budget before the first peppermint mocha calls your name. Whether it’s gifts, décor, or travel—write it down. Then stick to it. Consider a gift exchange instead of shopping for everyone, or making handmade gifts with love. Pick one or two memory-making events and let the rest go. You’ll sleep better.
Day 3: Protect Your Peace with Daily Self-Care
Pour into yourself this season. Try grounding exercises like the 5-4-3-2-1 technique or deep breathing. Start a gratitude journal—list one thing you’re thankful for, one thing you’re proud of, and one thing you’re looking forward to.
Ask yourself: 'What do I need today to feel calm and cared for?' Then honor that answer.
Day 4: Boundaries Are Beautiful
You don’t have to say yes to everything. Learn to say no, ask for help, and speak up about your limits. (It's taken me a long time to learn this one!) If dinner conversations get tricky, it’s okay to steer it elsewhere or excuse yourself. Your peace matters.
Open communication and clear boundaries can turn tension into togetherness.
Day 5: Focus on What Really Matters
At the end of the year, what do we remember?
The laughter.
The love.
The little moments that warmed our hearts.
Make space for those things. It’s not about a perfect picture—it’s about presence. Take a deep breath. Light a candle. And remember: joy lives in the small, sacred moments we often rush past.
Wishing you a stress-free holiday season.
**My BREAK THE GLASS IN CASE OF EMERGENCY TIP is to always have a couple easy to read holiday novellas on hand to escape into a beautiful fictional community where you can remember how to breathe a little slower, smile a little longer, and calm down.
Take care of yourself!
Nancy Naigle
Christmas is the time for forgiveness and love. Love your family.
You said it beautifully! Thank you.
Thank you for the reminder. After ending up in the hospital emergency room before Christmas of 2024 due to stress and my heart doing strange things, my family physician warned me that I should not say "yes" to everything or try to do everything perfectly. Stress can cause a heart attack, and she had a young teacher that had that happen. I learned to take one day at a time, do only what I needed to and say "no" to things that just were not necessary. You can certainly enjoy celebrating Christ at Christmas if you don't overwhelm yourself!
Too often we lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas. Great reminders!
Wonderful reminders.