A Gentle Pause During the Holiday Season

The holiday season often arrives with a mix of warmth, connection, and memories — and for many people, it can also bring a quiet or sudden increase in anxiety.

Anxiety doesn't always show up loudly. Sometimes it rises quickly, and other times it quietly sneaks in through busyness, expectations, gatherings, changes in routine, or memories that resurface. Even meaningful or joyful moments can feel like a lot when the nervous system is already stretched.

If this sounds familiar, you're not alone.

When Anxiety Shows Up This Time of Year

During the holidays, there's often pressure — to feel grateful, to be present, to keep up, to hold it all together. For some, this season brings grief, loneliness, or reminders of what's changed. For others, it's simply the accumulation of stimulation, social demands, and disrupted routines.

Anxiety in these moments isn't a sign that something is wrong with you. It's often a signal from the body and mind asking for slowing down, kindness, and care.

The Power of a Gentle Pause

One of the most supportive things you can do when anxiety rises is not to fight it — but to pause.

A pause doesn't mean fixing or calming everything right away. It means giving yourself a moment to breathe, to feel your feet on the ground, and to notice what's actually happening right now. Even a brief pause can help the nervous system shift out of urgency and into steadiness.

This is why short, in-the-moment mindfulness practices can be so helpful. They work with the body and attention, helping you reconnect with yourself rather than pushing through or shutting down.

A Soft Place to Land

I created a one-page mindfulness guide as a soft place to land during moments of anxiety — especially during this season. The practices are simple, evidence-based, and designed for real life: while waiting in line, before a gathering, after a difficult interaction, or when your thoughts start to race at night.

The practices gently support you to:

• Slow the breath and settle the nervous system
• Ground in the body and the present moment
• Relate to anxious thoughts with a bit more space
• Meet yourself with kindness rather than judgment

You don't need to feel calm, grateful, or joyful for these practices to help. They're not about creating a certain mood — they're about offering yourself care in the moment you're in.

Meeting Yourself With Kindness

For many people, the most challenging part of anxiety is the inner pressure to "be okay" or to experience the holidays a certain way. Mindfulness and gentle self-compassion invite something different: permission to be human.

Sometimes the most healing response is simply to notice what's here and say, "This is hard — and I can meet it with care." That alone can create a sense of relief and connection.

A Gentle Invitation

If this season feels busy, tender, or overwhelming at times, I invite you to save or return to the one-page guide whenever you need a moment of steadiness. You might choose one or two practices that feel most supportive and come back to them as needed.

There's no right way to move through the holidays. What matters is finding small ways to stay connected to yourself along the way.

You can find the mindfulness guide and other supportive resources at inspiringhope.ca/resources.

And if anxiety feels overwhelming or persistent, reaching out for additional support can be an important step. You don't have to navigate this alone.