
8 Simple Self-Care Tips to Keep You Grounded This Holiday Season
By: Cara Hutto
The holiday season can be full of connection, celebration, and joy, but it’s also one of the busiest and most stressful times of the year. Between juggling social obligations, gift shopping, family dynamics, and work deadlines, it’s easy to feel stretched thin. That’s why carving out time for self-care is more than just a luxury—it’s a necessity.
Prioritizing self-care isn’t about indulgence; it’s about nurturing your body, mind, and spirit, so you can show up for others and yourself with intention and energy. By focusing on wellness throughout the chaos, you can experience the holidays not as an overwhelming checklist, but as a meaningful and restorative time of year.
Here are actionable tips to help you integrate self-care routines during the busy holiday season, ensuring you stay grounded and connected to your well-being.
1. Start your day with stillness
The mornings during the holidays can feel hectic, with to-do lists running through your mind before you’ve even had breakfast. Combat this chaos by carving out 5–10 minutes of stillness at the start of each day.
- Sit quietly and focus on your breath or use a guided meditation app to center yourself.
- Write down three things you’re grateful for to set a positive tone for the day ahead.
- Wake up your body with gentle movement. Try yoga poses like cat-cow, downward dog, or child’s pose to wake up your body.
A beginner’s guide to meditation: Finding Stillness: A Beginner’s Guide to Mindful Meditation
2. Fuel your body with nutrient-rich foods
Holiday meals are often indulgent. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the treats of the season, but balance is key in order to feel your best. Prioritize fueling your body with nutritious, whole foods to keep your energy levels steady.
- Plan ahead and keep healthy snacks on hand, like nuts, fruit, or protein bars, to avoid grabbing less nutritious options on the go.
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Dehydration can lead to fatigue, irritability, and headaches, which only add to holiday stress.
- Engage in mindful eating and take time to savor your meals. Chew slowly, enjoy the flavors, and notice how the food makes you feel.
5 Healthy post-yoga breakfast recipes: Refuel and Recover with These 5 Healthy Post-Yoga Breakfast Recipes
3. Set realistic boundaries
The holidays can come with a lot of demands—attending events, hosting gatherings, or meeting others’ expectations. While it’s wonderful to celebrate with loved ones, overcommitting can lead to burnout.
- Don’t hesitate to say “no” when you need to rest. Your time and energy are valuable, so feel empowered to politely decline invitations or responsibilities that feel overwhelming.
- Limit your screen time. Social media can amplify holiday stress by fostering comparisons, so set boundaries on how much time you spend scrolling.
- Schedule personal time to recharge. Block off time in your calendar just for yourself, whether it’s a quiet evening at home or a restorative yoga class.
4. Move your body regularly
Physical movement is a powerful stress reliever and energy booster, especially during the holidays when your schedule might disrupt your usual routines.
- Roll out your yoga mat and flow through a series of poses that match your energy level. A gentle restorative practice can soothe a frazzled mind, while a more dynamic flow can invigorate you.
- If time is tight, a 10–15 minute walk or workout is still incredibly beneficial.
- Turn on your favorite holiday playlist and dance around your living room for a joyful burst of movement.
5. Prioritize quality sleep
Sleep often takes a back seat during the holiday rush, but it’s crucial for both physical and mental health. Aim for 7–9 hours of rest per night to recharge.
- Establish a nighttime routine and wind down with calming activities like reading, stretching, or meditating.
- Limit your caffeine and alcohol intake. These can interfere with sleep quality, so enjoy them in moderation and earlier in the day.
- Create a restful environment. Keep your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet and consider using a white noise machine or blackout curtains for optimal sleep.
Yoga poses for better sleep: Yoga for Better Rest: 10 Gentle Poses to Enhance Your Sleep Quality
6. Practice mindfulness throughout the day
Mindfulness is the practice of staying present in the moment, which can help you stay grounded during holiday business.
- Pause and take three deep breaths whenever you feel stressed or overwhelmed.
- Focus on one task at a time—multitasking can increase stress. Instead, give your full attention to one thing before moving on to the next.
- Engage your senses and notice the smells, sights, sounds, tastes, and textures around you, especially during holiday moments like decorating or baking.
7. Lean into community and connection
The holidays are a time for connection, but quality matters more than quantity. Surround yourself with people who uplift and support you.
- Let loved ones know you appreciate them, whether through a heartfelt conversation, a handwritten card, or a small gesture.
- Don’t be afraid to delegate or ask for help with holiday preparations–many hands make light work.
- Attend a group fitness class. A yoga or meditation class can provide a sense of community and shared purpose during this season.
8. Celebrate progress, not perfection
It’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to make the holidays perfect. Remember that imperfections are part of the experience and can even lead to memorable moments.
- Let go of unrealistic expectations. Focus on what truly matters—connection, joy, and gratitude.
- Celebrate small wins. Whether it’s finding five minutes to meditate or preparing a healthy meal, acknowledge and appreciate your efforts.
- Practice self-compassion and speak to yourself with kindness, just as you would to a friend navigating a busy season.
Yoga + Sound Meditation in DUMBO Brooklyn
At ONEYOGAHOUSE, we understand the importance of self-care, especially during the holidays.
Our yoga and meditation classes are designed to help you reconnect with your body and mind. Whether you’re seeking balance through restorative sessions or energizing flow practices, we offer a range of options to fit your needs. You can also give the gift of yoga to a loved one—it’s a present that keeps on giving. Whether online or in-person, the ONEYOGAHOUSE community is always here to support you through even the busiest seasons.
ABOUT ONEYOGAHOUSE
oneyogahouse
90 Furman St
Brooklyn, NY 11201
We are a yoga, pilates, and sound meditation studio located in DUMBO (an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), next door to the 1Hotels in Brooklyn Bridge Park. As a community that prioritizes awakening our bodies, expanding our energy, and bringing movement to life, OYH offers a space designed to uplift and empower practitioners to ground themselves, undergo transformation, ignite their energy, and evolve in their yoga journey.
Driven by a passion for community, connection, and the transformative effects of yoga and meditation, yoga teacher and entrepreneur Anna Haddad founded OYH in 2020, and in the challenging landscape of the global COVID-19 pandemic, opened the Brooklyn location in September of 2021. Over the past several years, she’s built a team of some of New York’s most exceptional instructors. With safety, sustainability, and intentionality prioritized above all else, you can anticipate a yoga experience that’s not only accessible, but also mentally stimulating and geared towards personal growth.
We offer an array of classes suitable for every practice level.
We offer a diverse range of classes suited to practitioners of all levels, from absolute beginners to advanced yogis. Our yoga teachers come from all lineages and studies, from Katonah and Iyengar, to Vinyasa and Ashtanga. Whether you’re drawn to a hot, vigorous flow, a gentle, restorative practice, or a meditative sound therapy session, there’s something for everyone. Each class is thoughtfully designed to cater to different needs and preferences, ensuring that you find the practice that resonates with you.
Our most popular specialty classes include:
THE CENTERED ONE - MAT PILATES
Our pilates classes will challenge you in exercises that chisel your abs, tone your glutes, and sculpt long, lean muscles. You will use your own body weight, yoga blocks, magic circles, and resistance bands.
THE THERAPEUTIC ONE
This class combines a gentle slow flow and restorative yin postures and closes with a deep meditation session to explore the quietude of your mind.
THE FIERY ONE - HOT YOGA
This is a heated Vinyasa flow experience that is intentional, fun, and guided by the rhythm of the breath. Expect lots of movement with a focus on functional exercises. It’s an open-level class that’s powered by radiant infrared panels and an air purification system to minimize airborne dust, pollen, and germs.
THE STUDIOUS ONE - MASTER CLASS
Taught by senior teachers, master classes are an opportunity for intermediate yogis and teachers to deepen their practice through an extended study of the asanas. You’ll incorporate more advanced postures, yoga philosophy, and anatomical education.
THE FOUNDATIONAL ONE
This class breaks down the fundamentals of key yoga postures for both people who have never taken a yoga class and practitioners who have some knowledge of the practice but would like to renew and strengthen their foundation.
THE EMBODIED ONE - SOMATICS
Explore somatic movement exercises to help re-educate the way your brain moves, holds, and senses your muscles. You’ll commence class with an extended savasana and gradually enter into yoga asanas.
THE INTERNAL ONE
In this internal strength class using the Kinstretch® Method, focus on the determinants of your movement (i.e. ligaments, tendons, and connective tissue) rather than the external organization of movement (i.e. specific yoga poses). Through self-assessment, you’ll learn about your current range of motion and exercise more control.
THE ALIGNED ONE
Similar to The Fiery ONE, expect an open-level, but room temperature, Vinyasa class woven with elements of Hatha, Iyengar, Ashtanga, or Katonah Yoga. These yoga classes are intelligently sequenced at a slower, sweeter pace to ease you into the practice, allowing time for your body to adapt to movement. You are sure to break a sweat by building heat from within.
In every class, the teacher will ease you into practice, allowing time for your body to adapt to the flow and temperature of the room. No class is exactly the same, but overall, you can expect emphasis on mindful movement, mobility, alignment, breathwork, and drishti—a focused gaze—cultivating a sense of presence and awareness on the mat. Our focus on breath allows you to deepen your practice, quiet the mind, and experience a profound sense of relaxation and inner peace. You’ll be encouraged to listen to your body, honor its limitations, and explore your edge with compassion.
SOUND MEDITATION
Sound has been used for its therapeutic qualities for centuries. Sound Meditation experiences at OYH will guide you through an experience of pranayama, vocalization, and visualization to prepare for deep listening. You will be encouraged to find a comfortable position, and with eyes closed, take in the sounds emitted from instruments such as gongs, singing bowls, varying chimes and bells, drums, etc. These instruments, intentionally sequenced, create a safe space for participants to enter a meditative state to down-regulate the nervous system and create a sense of ease and clarity.
Our holistic approach to community and wellness.
At OYH, you’re part of a supportive and inclusive community from day one. Whether you attend classes regularly or drop in occasionally, you’ll find camaraderie and encouragement from fellow practitioners and instructors alike. The studio fosters connections beyond the mat, offering workshops, events, retreats, and social gatherings to support local businesses (like brunch and oyster shucking) where you can connect with like-minded individuals and deepen your practice both on and off the mat.
Our holistic approach to wellness extends beyond movement. In addition to regular yoga and pilates classes, the studio offers workshops focused on nutrition, mindfulness, self-care, and personal development. Whether you’re interested in exploring the benefits of Ceremonial Grade Cacao, learning about the Controlled Articular Rotations (CARs) routine, or delving into pelvic floor therapy, there are ample opportunities to learn something new and nourish your body, mind, and soul.
Retreats offer immersive experiences that transcend the boundaries of the studio. ONEYOGAHOUSE retreats serve as rejuvenating getaways designed to allow participants to deepen their practice and forge new connections. Through carefully curated programs, attendees engage in daily yoga, breathwork, functional mobility, journaling, and meditation sessions, alongside modalities such as lymph work, kriyas, and vagal toning. Retreat members also enjoy chef-prepared group meals, outdoor adventures and exploration, cocktail hours, spa services, shopping and cultural trips, and more. Set in beautiful locations like Los Cabos, Mexico, Morocco, North Africa, and Montauk, New York, the retreat landscapes provide serene backdrops for self-reflection and relaxation.
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