Permission to Slow Down in a Busy Season

We’re moving rapidly toward Thanksgiving and the busyness that comes with this time of year. The holiday season pulls us to do more — to be more social, spend more time out of our homes, do more things and potentially be stretched thin. While this time is praised as being a joyful time of year, I’m find it helpful to notice what you enjoy about the holidays. And also to notice what you don’t enjoy. Is there ways that you can support and care for yourself to make this time of year feel good in your body?

It always seems notable to me that the outward pull of energy the world encourages this time of year is directly opposite to what the natural world is doing — shorter days, more darkness, cold weather, hibernation and going inward. I’m always interested in finding balance between enjoying the festivities of this time of year while finding space for quiet and stillness.

If you find this time of year challenging, I encourage you to carve out time to care for and nurture your body in ways that feel supportive and good for you. Do the holiday things you truly want to do and skip the ones that you don’t want to do. Take time to move your body. Sleep enough. Drink enough water. You have permission to care for yourself the way that you need.