The Holiday Dread

Happy November. I don’t know about you, but I feel a little sense of dread right after Halloween. Some of it is residual– in the corporate job I had for eleven years, there was always a last minute scramble to finish as much as possible before the new year. You might be experiencing this pressure yourself.

There is also a dread of the holidays– a time that is supposed to be joyous and fun, but is often filled with “shoulds,” pressure, and family dysfunction. I feel this every year in the collective, even as I’ve cultivated more peace (and fun) with my family at the holidays.

Nature encourages us to slow down and rest at this time of year. The days are getting shorter. It’s getting colder.

There's only been electricity in most homes for about a hundred years. That means our ancestors didn't stay up late with the stimulation of work, phone, and TV.

I imagine that instead, they sat around a fire telling stories, then drifted off to sleep early. So it follows that our bodies are attuned to the lengthening darkness of the night, and you may find that you need more sleep at this time of year.

Per Ayurveda, the general guidance is to be in bed by 10pm to help us digest the day.

As we go into these disjointed days that can disrupt our routines with travel, indulgent eating, and the like, I’ll send out some small digestible tips over the next few weeks to help. The main point I want to make now is that if you can keep a mini routine even in the midst of the holidays, it will go a long way to help keep you grounded.

A few examples:

• Opening and closing your day with five minutes of meditation or breathwork

• Sitting down to eat every meal, snack, or dessert and giving thanks

• Staying hydrated by sipping on hot water throughout the day