How to Stay Sane During the Holidays

Halloween feels barely over but the candy is basically gone. Suddenly, it hits you: the holidays are here. Cue the to-do list spiral — presents, family, school deadlines, Secret Santa group chats, New Year’s plans … it’s a lot.

In all the chaos, we sometimes forget to actually be. We’re so focused on what’s next that we miss the little, awesome things happening right now — like someone randomly being nice to us, a funny moment with a friend, or even just how pretty the sky looks. There are moments every day worth appreciating — if we have the capacity to notice them.

Here’s where mindfulness comes in — not as a buzzword, but as an actual, life-enhancing tool.

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is basically the opposite of doomscrolling. It’s the practice of paying attention to the moment you’re in — on purpose, and without judging it (or yourself). It’s not about zoning out — it’s about tuning in to your body and breath.

Mindfulness helps reduce stress, boost your mood, sharpen your focus, and make you feel more grounded.

How do I do it?

Good news: You don’t need a yoga mat or incense to get started. Here are a few zero-pressure ways to bring mindfulness into your day, even during peak chaos season:

• One-minute reset[MS1] 
  Find a quiet-ish corner (yes, the bathroom counts). Close your eyes. Breathe in, breathe out. Pay attention to the sound of your breath and how your body feels. Don’t try to control how you feel — just notice it. If your brain wanders (which it will), gently bring your focus back to your breath. Do this for a few minutes each day.

• Gratitude, but make it daily
  Every day, write down five things you’re thankful for. They don’t have to be profound — maybe it’s your favorite matcha, a joke that made you laugh, or a playlist that hits just right. Gratitude doesn’t have to be deep to be real.

• Sensory scrolls IRL
  When you're outside, focus on one of your senses. What do you see? Hear? Smell? Try naming things without judgment — like “That car is blue” or “I hear birds.” It helps you slow down and notice your surroundings. 

• Bubble therapy
  Tap into your inner child and blow some bubbles. Watch them float. Don’t pop them — just see where they drift. It’s oddly soothing, and yes, it counts as mindfulness.
  
  

Why it matters

When you can carve out even a few moments of mindfulness each day, you might experience a shift in perspective. You might stress less and notice more. You might feel more present instead of lost in your thoughts. And by the time Thanksgiving hits, you won’t be scrambling to remember what you’re grateful for because you’ve been living it daily.

And maybe that’s the real holiday magic: learning to slow down, just enough, to appreciate what’s already around you.

Since our subsection heds are sentence case, let’s make these sentence case, too.