The holidays can be magical….twinkly lights, cozy food, family moments….but let’s be honest: they can also feel like a marathon you never fully trained for. Expectations pile up, family dynamics get interesting, to-do lists grow wings, and suddenly everyone wants something from you right now. Or no one wants anything and all of a sudden you feel sad and lonely. In this blog we will discuss stress relief and how to manage.
This Wellness Wednesday, we’re grounding ourselves with practical, encouraging, slightly humorous strategies to keep your peace protected and your stress levels in check.
Many of us load up the holidays with pressures that would overwhelm a superhero: perfect meals, perfect gifts, perfect memories, perfectly decorated homes, perfectly behaved kids… the list goes on.
But perfection is not the assignment….connection, rest, presence, and small pockets of joy are.
Try shifting your expectations to things that actually feel human:
“I want to enjoy a meal without rushing.”
“I want one cozy moment with my family.”
“I’d like to get through gatherings with my sanity intact.”
“I will not attempt to produce a Hallmark movie.”
Let go of the expectations that turn into disappointment or stress. You’re one person, not the North Pole production team.
Everyone has different holiday pressure points….. gift-buying, cooking, travel, finances, grief, loneliness, family dynamics, overstimulation….the whole holiday bingo card. Maybe a few of these can offer stress relief in the upcoming seasons.
The goal isn’t to eliminate stress entirely, but to soften what you can:
Shop online instead of dealing with crowds
Choose easier meals or order prepared dishes
Ask people to bring food
Plan downtime
Limit time around people who drain you
Make intentional space for grief or memories
Small adjustments can create huge emotional relief.
Think about what you genuinely look forward to each year… movies, music, recipes, rituals, quiet mornings, warm lights, time with your people.
These aren’t add-ons. They’re anchors.
Make space for them on purpose.
When your brain goes straight to:
“I can’t keep up.”
“This is too much.”
“Everything’s going wrong.”
Try:
Catch the thought → Check it → Change it.
Ask yourself if the thought is 100% true or if it’s holiday stress talking.
Reframes like:
“I’m allowed to slow down.”
“It doesn’t all have to happen today.”
“Good enough counts.”
create breathing room that actually helps.
If you can laugh about it, even a little, you can breathe through it.
Holiday chaos becomes easier when you let yourself say things like:
“I will survive this dinner.”
“We are not discussing politics today, thank you.”
“If one more person asks if I’m ‘almost done shopping,’ I’m taking a nap.”
Humor releases tension….use it freely.
Family gatherings can bring out the best, worst, and weirdest in everyone. Protect your energy with strategies like:
Stay calm so you can respond instead of react
Consider their perspective (strategically, not emotionally)
Seek support from someone you trust
Focus on the moment, not the entire history
Share only what you’re comfortable sharing
Keep backup topics ready to redirect
Set realistic expectations — some behaviors won’t change
Let go of old hurts, not to excuse them, but to free yourself
Boundaries aren’t confrontational….they’re protective.
Holiday gatherings = potential emotional dodgeball. Prepare like a pro:
Find a quiet retreat space…bedroom, porch, garage, or “checking something in the car.”
If you can’t leave physically, escape mentally with breathing or imagination.
Plans may shift. Conversations may need redirecting. Perfection belongs in movies, not your living room.
Tell trusted people ahead of time what topics you prefer to avoid, or when you might need space.
Recruit a “rescue partner” if needed.
Have a friend text you during gatherings.
A simple “Still alive?” or “Want me to call you with a fake emergency?” can help more than you think.
Set up a cozy recovery corner at home….blankets, soft lights, comfort shows, tea, snacks…your emotional charging dock.
Pick five small things that reliably help you feel better….music, stretching, walking, reading, cuddling a pet, watching something funny — and sprinkle them throughout the season intentionally.
Hemp isn’t a fix-all, but it can be a helpful companion to the wellness tools you’re already using — especially during high-stress seasons. Think of it as a gentle sidekick to the coping skills you’re practicing:
Pairing grounding breaths with a calming hemp gummy
Using a small dose before walking into overwhelming family dynamics
Taking a few puffs before journaling, stretching, or doing your mood-reset routine
Adding hemp to your evening wind-down ritual after hosting, cooking, or corralling kids
Using a mellow strain to help shift out of “holiday brain scramble” and into relaxation
Combining it with cozy moments….movies, music, hot tea, or your post-gathering “cocoon”
Hemp works best when used intentionally….. not to escape the holiday, but to soften the rough edges so you can fully show up for the parts that matter.
Your coping tools do the heavy lifting.
Hemp just smooths the path.
(And of course, always go low-and-slow, listen to your body, and enjoy responsibly.)
These tools support your wellbeing and stress relief, but they’re not a substitute for professional care.
If you’re struggling or feeling unlike yourself, reaching out for help is a strong, healthy step.
You deserve support.
You deserve rest.
You deserve relief.
You’re doing your best….and that’s more than enough.
Lower the bar where needed.
Give yourself grace.
Make space for joy.
Let go of the holiday perfection script.
The holidays don’t have to be perfect to be meaningful.
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