A Mind Body Spirit Approach To Managing Stress For Winter Gatherings And Celebrations

When the seasons start turning there are many celebrations and traditions that bring family together. Here is a quick guide to help you to start to recognize what you need to feel empowered to regenerate this winter along with the rhythm of nature.

Winter is often seen in many cultures and spiritual practices as a time to go inward to reflect, regenerate, and take stock of what has happened in the year and prepare for the year ahead. This commonly includes time with family and celebrations or spiritual traditions and practices.

Sometimes celebrations and family are nourishing and relaxing, or sometimes it can be challenging, and sometimes it’s a mix of both feelings which can be confusing. Many people struggle with mental health at this time of year because of the expectations of friends and family, expectations you have for yourself, and societal pressure to follow certain expectations.

More Of What You Want And Leaving Behind What You Don't Want

Here are some questions to help you identify and navigate towards what you want more of and what you would like to leave behind this season. Remember, as you are reading these questions there aren’t any wrong answers here, just information to help you get more of what you want this season.

Questions To Consider

1. Think about where you really want to spend your time. Do you say yes to things you don’t want to do? Do you say no to things you would really love to do? Do you know why you say yes or no? Does this pattern work for you?
   
   
2. Who makes you feel good, peaks your interest, or makes you feel empowered in your life? Do you have time carved out to spend some time with them?
   
   
3. What do you do in your life that makes you feel great? What empowers you or do you feel passionate about in a way that leaves you with more of something you want to feel?
   
   
4. Is there a spiritual tradition or practice that your culture celebrates? Do you usually feel filled up by it? Does it drain you? Is it something in between? What amount of time and energy do you want to put towards this? Do you feel like your spiritual practices and traditions fit with what you believe and feel?
   
   
5. How do you bolster your spirits and feel fulfilled or on track with your purpose? Do you do things to blow off steam often enough? Too often maybe? Do you know what makes you feel fulfilled? Do you feel like you are doing enough of that in your life? Has what fulfillment and purpose means to you changed for you in your lifetime?
   
   
6. Who do you struggle to spend time with? Who do you feel drained by when you are with them or if you even think about them? How much time are you willing to spend with these people? How much time can you realistically tolerate them without feeling resentful or exhausted? Where do you have a choice to spend time with them?
   
   
7. What do you do in your life that makes you feel exhausted, depleted, and/or drained? How much time in your life do you have dedicated to these things? Are you disproportionately spending time on doing things that are challenging? What percentage of your time would you consciously give to these activities?
   
   
8. Ask yourself “What does my body need? Do I need to move more or less? Do I need to eat more strictly, or give myself permission to let loose more often? Do I need help to identify what my body needs right now? What makes me feel refreshed and energetic? What makes me feel not so great or horrible?”
   
   
9. If you look at your calendar of plans this winter, where do you have the ability to choose your schedule or how to spend your time? So far, how are you choosing to spend it? Remember, even if you choose not to plan at all that is a choice. Check in and ask yourself, “is this a choice I want to make? Will this help me achieve my goals and support my mental health?”
   

If you’d like to take this one step further after you have considered the questions, here is a suggestion to try that can help you to get going in the direction you want.  If you have anything you would like to have more of in your life, pick which one is the most important and commit by either writing it down and scheduling it in your planner or telling or planning with a friend or loved one to take the action step together.

Try to commit to one thing you can do in the next 2 weeks that will help you toward that goal. Think baby steps to start out if you tend to get overwhelmed. There is nothing wrong with breaking your steps up into smaller bite sized pieces. Starting something small is better than not starting at all!

No matter how you spend your time this winter season, this guide is to bring awareness to what YOU want more of. We are wishing you a happy, loving and fulfilled season and cheering you on!

If this brings up questions you would like to have some help navigating through and you resonate with holistic medicine you can check out how to work with me here.