By the time you read this article, the holiday season will have begun. It’s the time of year when we add extra activities to our already full lives — holiday performances, parties, family gatherings, hosting guests in our homes, preparing elaborate meals. For some of us, that list comes with the added pressure of strained relationships with family. My heart races and my palms sweat just thinking about it.

Your body is constantly communicating clues about its internal state. As I sit with my racing heart and sweaty palms, I think of my body as a beloved friend. I listen to it with compassion and understanding. It’s no wonder it feels so anxious! Even participating in activities that I enjoy will make me busier than I already am. My body is worried that its well-being will not be high on my to-do list.

As I empathize with my body’s concerns, I also know it contains valuable resources to support its own welfare. So I check in with it, listening for the quiet voice that says, “I am here. You can count on me.” For me, it is my breath and my feet. I slow my breathing to calm my heartbeat. I feel my feet on the floor, and it brings me back from worrying about the future into the present. There’s nothing else I need to do right now except feel at ease.

I am also reminded to add self-care to my calendar. I have tools, such as meditation, exercise and Reiki that I can do by myself. Enlisting the help of professional bodyworkers can provide an additional level of support. Doing these things will fill my resiliency reservoir and give me the strength to face whatever challenges I encounter.

Here are some more ideas for tackling the extra excitement of the holidays:

Take a break. Make time to pay attention to your body before it sends you a message you can’t ignore.

Honor your emotions. Even if you don’t have time to address them immediately, your body will appreciate the acknowledgement.

Trust your intuition. It may appear as a thought that pops into your head, a sensation in your gut or a feeling in your heart. This is another way your body sends valuable messages.

Give yourself permission to say no with no explanation necessary.

Talk to a friend or colleague, or write it down. Hearing your concerns out loud or seeing them in writing can validate your perspective, or change it. 

Schedule time to do something that brings you joy.

Seek professional help. If you’re struggling with demands for your time and attention, ask a friend for a recommendation of a counselor, bodyworker or support group. Weavers Way’s Health & Wellness Committee members are great resources. That’s what we’re here for!

Whatever the holidays bring, your body knows how to meet this season with grace. You only have to hear what it has to say.