Isn’t it ironic that the most wonderful time of the year is also the most stressful? The holiday parties, gift shopping, and year-end performance reviews leave little time to enjoy much else—but to then add that to the buried emotions and past traumas that tend to resurface during this time? Well, you can kiss the magic and joy of the season goodbye and say hello to holiday stress.
That said, this season truly does have a lot to offer, and holiday stress shouldn’t take away from it. Which is why I tapped the help of spiritual and wellness guru Alyse Bacine for some guidance. As the CEO of Alyse Breathes, Bacine’s dedicated to helping people clear and heal from past traumas and reach higher ascension through mindfulness practices like breathwork. Scientific studies have shown that the simple act of breathing can drastically reduce stress in the body. Which is honestly something we all need during this time.
Regardless of how you feel about the holidays, Bacine’s tips can help nourish your soul and help you stay sane during this time. Plus, they’re simple, effective, and cost just $0. Keep scrolling to learn the four practices Alyse Bacine swears by to relieve holiday stress:
How To Relieve Holiday Stress:
MEET THE EXPERT
Alyse Bacine
BREATHWORK PRACTITIONER, SPIRITUAL MENTOR, AND CEO OF ALYSE BREATHES AT ALYSEBREATHES.COM
1. Slow down and listen to yourself
It’s strange to think that the most wonderful time of the year induces so much stress, and Bacine believes this is due to the fact that people often feel like there’s a lot of obligations and expectations from their family and friends. “They feel like they have to ‘show up’ for others,” Bacine told me. “There is a lot of pressure associated with that.” She also went on to mention that the “busy” energy we feel during this time of year only adds to that pressure. “People feel like they don’t have enough time to get everything done.”
To counter this bubbling pressure and stress, Bacine recommends taking the time to slow down and listen to yourself. Having compassion for and being gentle with yourself can help with this. “It’s perfectly OK to rest and relax verses burning the candle at both ends,” she said.
2. Do daily breathwork
Although there’s a plethora of mindfulness practices out there, Bacine swears by the efficiency of breathwork. “I always recommend breathwork to people because it moves stuck energy and brings you into the present moment,” she told me. Taking the time to do it daily during the holiday season can seriously lower cortisol levels and help you stay calm. “It only takes a few minutes of consciously focusing on your breath to completely change how you feel,” she added.
The best part about breathwork is that it can be done anywhere, any time. To start, Bacine recommends closing your eyes and taking ten conscious connected breaths. This means not pausing between the inhale and exhale, and allowing your body to relax on the exhale. “This will ground your energy and act as a total reset,” Bacine told me. “You can then start your day or go into that gathering feeling calm and centered.”
3. Make yourself a priority
Bacine also firmly believes in not doing anything you don’t want to do and not putting yourself on the back burner. “This is a time to make your meditation or exercise routine a priority vs letting it go because you don’t have time,” Bacine said. She also stressed that if there’s something you don’t want to do, don’t do it!
Additionally, it’s natural to want to make your friends and family (especially family) happy during this time. However, Bacine warns against falling into the trap of people pleasing. “Don’t say yes to doing something that you know you really don’t want to do,” she told me. Likewise, she cautioned against taking on obligations to make others happy. At the end of the day, people pleasing doesn’t serve anyone.
4. Know your triggers
This time of year can be emotional and challenging for many people; it’s a time where family and loved ones are on the forefront of all discussions and events, which can bring up a lot of trauma. To make things easier on and protect yourself, Bacine suggests setting boundaries for what you and are not available for.
However, that said, you can’t set boundaries unless you know what your triggers are. For this reason, Bacine believes that it’s “non-negotiable to do the deeper inner child work so that you know your triggers and are able to effectively navigate them this holiday season.” Mindfulness practices like breathwork and conscious connected breathing, as well as meditation and journaling can help you identify your triggers. In addition, Bacine also recommends getting extra support—whether it’s from a therapist or trusted confidante—during heightened emotional times.
At the end of the day, experiencing holiday stress is normal. There may very well be days where you feel better than others, and that’s OK. Try your best to be gentle and compassionate with yourself during hard moments, and embrace the positivity and joy in the others. If you can do that, you’ll be golden.
