Your Ultimate Holiday Stress Survival Kit
Note: some of the links below are affiliate links, which help support the production of this newsletter, and some are just links to stuff I really really like and find useful. Hopefully, you will, too! (All of these are products I have tried and LOVE for myself.)
Let’s face it—the world isn’t gonna slow down for you to gather yourself so you can show up as your best self. If anything, it’s speeding up.
So, how do you keep your sanity intact? The answer isn’t in pushing harder; it’s in slowing down. No one’s going to give you the space you need, so you MUST create it yourself. In essence: Self Care.
GET GROUNDED
Start with the simplest grounding practice: feel your feet on the floor, take a deep breath, and reconnect with your body. Pair this with this 20-min free grounding audio for the full embodied experience. Try walking outside barefoot (yes, even in the freezing snow) and the fastest route to grounding. And no you don’t need fancy shoes or grounding mats. Literally just get your bare feet on the solid earth.
Pro Tip: Want some music to enhance your grounding even further? Check out LoFi Girl’s playlists for a soothing soundtrack to your sanity.
Cozy Up in Natural Comfort
Wrap yourself in natural fibers like an organic cotton robe and slip on wool or shearling slippers (Below are some of my faves.) These materials breathe better than synthetics and don’t contribute to microplastic pollution, which has been linked to endocrine disruption, inflammation, and declining sperm quality. (Plastic balls, anyone?) Treating your body kindly starts with what you put on it.
Upgrade Your Bath Game
While Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) are very popular, magnesium chloride flakes are the MVP. Why? They’re more bioavailable, meaning your body absorbs and uses them better. Magnesium chloride has longer-lasting effects, soothing your muscles, improving sleep, and helping you actually relax.
Pro Tip: Pair with a dry brush for pre-bath exfoliation to enhance absorption.This combination can help detox your body, ease muscle tension, increase immunity and calm your mind. Follow up with a deeply hydrating body oil – like castor, almond or jojoba.
Tune Out the Light & the Noise
Noise-reducing earplugs, a silk eye-mask, and a weighted blanket are lifesavers when you need peace. All help reduce sensory overload, which is essential for calming your nervous system. Like a warm hug, a weighted blanket can calm your nervous system by activating pressure points that signal safety and relaxation. Perfect for winding down after a chaotic day.
Escape with a Book – A Real Book (Yes, Paper!)
Step away from the screens, friends. Reading a physical book—especially at night—helps avoid blue light, which can sabotage your melatonin production and disrupt your sleep. Dive into an inspiring story or a book on self-discovery. You’ll thank yourself when you’re falling asleep naturally instead of doom-scrolling on your phone.
Here are some old faves that I might dive into on my flight home that are not business books:
