5 Practical ways to stay mindful this holiday season.
The holiday season can be a beautiful mix of joy, connection and celebration – but it also tends to crank up our stress levels, to‑do lists and expectations.
Between social events, family dynamics and financial pressure, it’s easy to end up exhausted instead of restored.
Mindfulness offers a simple, practical way to slow down, notice what you need and actually enjoy the moments you’re working so hard to create.
What is mindfulness?
“ - the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something:
a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique. ”
Why mindfulness matters this holiday season.
Mindfulness is crucial during the holiday season because it helps calm the nervous system, reduce stress, and keep you connected to what actually matters, rather than getting swept away by pressure and expectations.
When paired with intentional self‑care, it becomes a practical way to protect both mental and physical health at a time when demands typically increase.
Why holidays feel so stressful.
Adults experience higher stress levels during the holiday period, driven by financial pressure, social obligations, time crunch, and family dynamics.
Even when holidays are “joyous,” most people report some degree of elevated stress or emotional strain, creating a mix of enjoyment and overload.
How mindfulness helps your brain and body.
Mindfulness practices such as breathing exercises and present‑moment awareness directly support the brain’s stress pathways, improving attention and emotional regulation.
Research links higher mindfulness with significantly lower perceived stress and better psychological wellbeing, including fewer anxiety and mood symptoms.
Mindfulness as self-care during holidays.
Self‑care is any deliberate action that supports health and wellbeing, and during the holidays that often means setting limits, resting, and tending to your emotional needs.
Mindfulness strengthens self-awareness, making it easier to notice when you feel overwhelmed or drained and to respond with kinder, healthier choices instead of pushing through on autopilot.
Supporting presence, joy, and connection.
By training attention to return to the present, mindfulness helps you genuinely “be there” for simple moments—sharing a meal, a conversation, or quiet time—rather than ruminating about expectations or replaying conflicts.
Mindfulness is also associated with greater empathy and more thoughtful emotional responses, which can soften tense interactions and deepen feelings of togetherness over the season.
Below are 5 easy ways to weave mindfulness into your holidays without adding another big task to your list.
01 - Start the day with a slow moment.
Mornings can set the mood for the rest of your day.
In the morning, before you reach for your phone or dive into your to‑do list, take a few slow breaths and notice how your body feels.
You might sit with your tea or coffee and simply pay attention to the warmth of the cup, the smells and the first few sips.
This small pause sets a calmer tone and reminds you that you don’t have to sprint into the day.
In the evening, try a simple gratitude check‑in. Jot down three things you’re grateful for from the past 24 hours – they don’t need to be big: a kind message, a cosy pair of socks, a peaceful moment to yourself or a good laugh all count.
To make it easy, keep a notebook by your bed and use the same prompt each night, such as “Today I’m grateful for…” or “Three things that went well today were…”. Re‑reading your notes at the end of the week can be a lovely reminder of the good woven through the season.
02 - Use everyday activities as mini “mindful moments.”
You don’t need extra time to practise mindfulness – you can fold it into what you’re already doing.
When you’re showering, walking to the car, cooking or wrapping gifts, bring your attention to your senses: what you can see, hear, feel, smell and taste.
Each time your mind races ahead, gently come back to the activity in front of you..
03 - Practice deep breathing.
Use your breath to anchor your calm. A few slow, steady breaths can help settle a busy mind and tense body.
Find a quiet spot and practice deep belling breathing.
Inhale through your nose filling up your belly. Sigh it through your mouth. Repeat.
Box breathing.
Another method is Box Breathing.
This is where you inhale for 4 counts, hold the breath for 4 counts, sigh it out for 4 counts, hold the empty breath for 4 counts to repeat.
Another method is the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
The 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 method is a great tool to help calm yourself as you distract your brain to find:
5 Things you can see.
4 Things you can touch.
3 Things you can hear.
2 Things you can smell.
1 emotion you can feel.
Though there are many breathing techniques, these can help release any stress or anxiety you may be feeling.
04 - Set gentle boundaries around your time and energy
Mindfulness also means noticing your limits and honouring them.
Before saying yes to another event or commitment, pause and check in: How does my body feel? What do I actually have capacity for? It’s okay to leave early, say no or plan a quiet night in.
Protecting your energy helps you show up more fully to the things you truly value.
05 - Walk in nature.
Spending time in nature is a simple way to calm the nervous system and reset during a busy season.
Head to a park, beach, bush track or even a quiet tree‑lined street and walk at a comfortable pace.
Notice the colours, shapes and movement around you; feel your feet on the ground and the air on your skin.
When your mind wanders back to your list or worries, gently bring your attention back to your surroundings and your breath.
Mindfulness during the holidays is really about noticing and savouring the small, ordinary moments that make this season meaningful.
By weaving a few simple practices into your day, you give your mind and body a chance to slow down, reset and enjoy what’s right in front of you.
So take a gentle breath, come back to the present, and give yourself permission to experience this Christmas with more calm, gratitude and ease.