Photo credit: Jacob Wackerhausen / iStock
The holidays can be beautiful, full of tradition, nostalgia, delicious food and connection with loved ones. But they can also stir up stress in the form of pressure, expectations and emotions we don’t always talk about. This holiday season, we offer this reminder: you deserve joy, peace and ease. Not after you take care of everyone else, but right now. Here are seven ways to protect your peace this season and every season.
1. Create New Traditions (Every Year)
Traditions are important but they’re allowed to evolve as you evolve. If something no longer brings you excitement (or never did), give yourself permission to shift it. Try a new recipe—literally and figuratively.
- Make a dish you’ve always wanted to try (think twice about adding raisins, though)
- If you always go over there, stay home or go somewhere else
- Host differently (or not at all)
- Start something new (a special gift for you, handmade gifts or no gifts)
2. Set Emotional Boundaries Before You Arrive
Give yourself a simple check-in before you walk into any gathering:
- “What energy do I want to carry in?”
- “What or who am I choosing not to engage with?”
- “What will keep me feeling steady and present?”
- “What is my signal to leave?”
3. Build Micro-Moments of Joy
The season doesn’t have to hinge on the big, perfect moments. Sometimes the magic is in the quiet pauses.
- A morning cup of tea, each sip a reminder of your blessings
- A few minutes of breathing in fresh, crisp air and exhaling calm
- A holiday song on repeat that lifts your spirits
- That book that takes you to another time and place (Have you tried the genre romantasy?)
4. Care for Your Body
This time of year asks a lot from us. Respond gently.
- Drink water during celebrations
- Take a walk after meals
- Rest without apology
- Nurture your body with a long bath, warm blanket, stillness
5. Make Space for Change & Loss
The holidays can stir memories of what once was. It could be the loss of a loved one, a job or entire career, relationships, health, or a former version of yourself.
- Acknowledge what shifted and imagine the possibilities born from that shift
- Recognize you don’t have to be “on” for the season to make it meaningful
- Light a candle for your loved ones and say their names. They are not far away
- Reflect on just how far you have come. You made it through the fire before and will again
6. Step Into the New Year With Intention
Forget resolutions. Move with slow, steady intentions. Let the New Year unfold in alignment, not urgency. Ask yourself:
- “What do I want more of next year?”
- “What am I releasing?”
- “What am I rediscovering?”
- “Who am I becoming?”
7. Choose Love Again and Again
In a season that can usher in noise, expectations and overwhelm, the most powerful choice is often the simplest one. Choose love.
In all things, “Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time.” – Maya Angelou
Tracy Chiles McGhee is a multi-genre writer and the Constituency Engagement Manager for Unerased | Black Women Speak.
