I’ve heard many people echo the sentiment that this holiday season hasn’t felt relaxing, or even slowed down. Many of us are still grinding, trying to get ahead of the new year and finish the never ending list of to-do’s for 2022. Just making the holidays happen is an incredibly industrious task. Add that in with the rising cost of living and how much people are feeling the economic squeeze of inflation, it’s no wonder there is a collective sense of stress.
Lately I feel intensely overwhelmed by the experience of being alive. With so much happening in the world, so much to do at work growing a small business, the effort of managing interpersonal relationships, and general life transitions, I felt burned out. My mind, body, and spirit were crying out for slow holiday joy.
Although many wellness articles focus on putting less meaning and value on productivity, the truth is that very few of us have the privilege to choose not being productive.
In a small business setting especially, the lives and families of all employees are dependent on the success of the business. Here are a few realistic tips for getting through the end of the year.
Reset Your Nervous System – Find Your Breath
My favorite breathing exercise is one you can feel the benefits of immediately. When I relax my body and breathe in this rhythm, I can feel an overwhelming tingly sensation of my whole nervous system releasing. Here is how you can relax and release:
Feel your muscles relax, the tingle in your head and body, and the stress release of your nervous system unwinding. This exercise truly provides an immediate solution you can physically feel when dealing with stress and overwhelm.
Understand and Communicate Boundaries
What are the things that truly make you feel good in this moment, and what are the things you usually like to do when you are under less pressure? Figure out what you really need, and learn how to ask for it or say no to things that don’t align with what is best for you.
When you are always the one to volunteer or contribute in certain ways, it’s easy to be on autopilot during this time of the year and continue doing what is normal to you even if it doesn’t feel good.
When your mind and body react with an immediate ‘no’, pay attention to that. Take a pause before your brain immediately moves to the voice that convinces you to do things for external reasons. Ask yourself, will this actually make me feel good?
As an extrovert, I often convince myself that more socializing will fill my cup back up. I say yes to commitments thinking they will make me feel refreshed and replenished, but end up feeling more drained the next day. In reality, my wellbeing cannot be dependent on something as innately variable as the behavior of other human beings, who should be allowed to show up to any space exactly as they are in that moment.
In times of stress, my social interactions with other people are only rejuvenating if they are in a positive and balanced headspace as well. Knowing this about myself can help me cope with life better, and show up for people when I myself am in a better headspace to lift them up.
This is where good boundaries and communication skills come in handy. Here are some practical communication skills for navigating boundaries in a stressful time:
Make Fun Things a High Priority
As I was feeling overwhelmed by all the things on my to-do list, I realized some of the things on there would be fun for me. Several of our plants in the office are getting yellow leaves, they have outgrown their little pots and need to be repotted before they start withering away. I love plants, touching their leaves and feeling the dirt is grounding for me. I moved this item to a higher priority, even though other things felt more important in the overall schema of what needed to be done.
It’s okay to do the fun thing. At the end of the day, your company and your spirit will be overall better for you investing time and energy into something that meaningfully gives back to you as well. Are there any items on your to-do list that would allow you to touch on your creative side? Things that would make you feel helpful and good about yourself?
Choosing who you spend your time with and how you spend your time can be an incredibly important and empowering coping mechanism. Ask for grace and always try to give it to yourself and others.
