How to Slow Down in A Holiday Season That is Running

The holiday season is upon us.
The activities are filling the calendar.
The gift list seems to grow as fast as I check items off.
And while I say yes to so much during this time of the year, I’ve also reached a point where I’m evaluating both mine and my family’s time,
and I’m hanging on to protect our energy and our peace.
So, here’s 5 tips that I actually use to slow down time.

+ Say no.

Instead of responding to an invite immediately or in the moment, take a pause. Let them know you will get back to them. This way, you have time to think about whether or not you have time for this plan and whether or not it “leads home” to your core values and how you want to be spending your time this holiday season.

Saying no is a difficult allowance for a lot of us, including me, but we have to remember that the world will be just fine if we say no. We can try to do it all and be it all, but when that comes at the expense of our peace, a boundary needs to be established. And setting that boundary with a simple no is not as scary as it seems; it’s liberating, and it gives you the gift of the time.


+ Schedule fun or “nothing at all” days

When I’m checking my calendar to see if I can add another event or activity, I literally consider if the event is back-to-back with something else or if we get a day at home in-between. I say yes to the plans that are non-negotiable, or like I said in my Christmas Round-Up blog, “lead home” for us. But if there’s a plan I am on the fence about, and it’s going to take away our one free day of the week, I decline.

I can sense that my kids need those fun and nothing at all days just as much as we do. And it’s a challenge because my husband and I are involved in so much. But I believe boredom is important for child development, for their independence, and for their creativity. And I don’t want my girls growing up in a fast-paced world where they feel like they’re constantly being told to hurry up or being rushed out the door. I feel a huge responsibility to make sure they feel seen, like they have time, and that they can attempt to tie their own shoes (sometimes) without us brushing them over to stay on a calendar we’ve created.


+ Create a morning or night routine for yourself, or even a self-care moment, every day.

This wasn’t something I did, or I guess even cared to do, until I had kids. I think having children created a chaos that had me searching for alone time with myself, and in that time, I’ve found and created these beautiful, little moments that truly slow down the pace of my world.

Here’s some of what works for me:
…my morning coffee routine
…my 30 minute, daily workout
…Netflix and phones with my husband after the kids go to sleep
…solo date at Urth Cafe for breakfast once a month
…my favorite podcast when I’m alone in the car

I think it’s a matter of being intentional with your time in a way that gives you space to show love to yourself. It can be 5 minutes or an entire chunk of your day, but find what grounds you, and make it a priority.


+ Be mindful of what you consume on social media.

We all have the power to customize our social media feeds and Internet scrolls, and it might seem trivial…who we follow, who we search, what we click, but the weight of these clicks and views adds up. These things become what we engage with, what we believe, and ultimately influence how we live our lives.

Will you follow accounts and trends that have you feeling left behind or wanting more, or will you protect your time and your energy by filtering this alternate reality that you’re exposing yourself to?

I have been making small moves myself in terms of what I consume online. I try to limit what I follow with the aesthetic, trendy pages that catch my eye. And instead, I’m devoting my energy to what catches my heart. When I feel confused about where I want to go with my blog, I come back to that core desire to talk about content that really matters and share what really connects us.


+ Break up the routine with new experiences

It can be uncomfortable, or even sound exhausting, to step outside our normal routines and try something new, but research proves that it slows down our perception of time. It’s actually super interesting, but we can manipulate time, at least in our own perception. If you’re curious to learn more, research Dr. David Eagleman and his studies on time perception.

Try a new workout program or exercise, go to a new restaurant for dinner, schedule a holiday vacation somewhere that you haven’t been before, cook a new recipe for dinner, read new books, or find new podcasts. There’s so many big and small ways to introduce novelty and break up the predictable routines, but we have to be willing to try.

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This was on my mind the other night, and I felt like I had to share what works for me just as we’re all about to enter the thick of holiday festivities. Please share what works for you!
And do whatever leads home for you and your family this holiday season. Sending love.
XOXO