Your Ultimate Holiday Stress Survival Kit

The holidays are here 🤗/🙄, and with them comes the usual chaos: packed schedules, family drama, overcrowded airplanes and highways, and the nagging pressure to create the perfect everything.

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.

Ok, but let’s get real for a second: “self-care” has become such a buzzword it’s almost meaningless. Bubble baths, candles, a glass of wine—it’s so cliché it’s boring. And what about for the dudes??

So we’re not doing that.

Instead, (we're about to get science-y below, so stay with me): taking care of yourself isn’t just about feeling nice and cozy. Fuck-the-Hustle-style self-care is about grounding yourself, regulating your nervous system, and reconnecting with your body, so you can show up as the most calm, collected version of yourself—even in the midst of chaos.

So, no, the world isn’t going to slow down for you. You have to take the reins and get grounded—for the sake of your sanity, your health, and everyone around you.

What Does It Mean to Ground Yourself?

Think of electrical ️⚡️ grounding. It’s how we stabilize energy to prevent dangerous surges. In the same way, grounding yourself means stabilizing your internal energy—your emotions, thoughts, and physical responses—so you’re not constantly overwhelmed.

When we’re ungrounded, we’re reactive, frazzled, and easily tipped over by stress. Grounding reconnects us to the present moment and helps us regain balance.

When life has you in “fight or flight” mode, grounding pulls you back into your body, helps stabilize your nervous system, and brings your stress response down.

Studies show that chronic stress floods your body with cortisol, which can lead to anxiety, poor sleep, and even weakened immunity (ever wonder why everybody gets sick around this time of year?).

Regulating your nervous system through intentional practices like mindfulness, breathwork, or grounding rituals literally helps you stay healthier and more emotionally resilient​.

Getting grounded not only benefits you, but it also positively affects everyone around you. When you’re calm, well-rested, and physically healthy, you’re better able to handle conflict, make decisions, and radiate peace in an otherwise chaotic world.

That’s why I’ve curated this list of my favorite grounding tools—because taking care of yourself at this time of year (or any other) isn’t optional.

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 love and find useful. Hopefully, you will, too!

Your Ultimate Holiday Stress Survival/Gift Kit

1. 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.

2. Cozy Up in Natural Comfort

Wrap yourself in natural fibers like an organic cotton robe and slip on some wool or shearling slippers (Here 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.

3. Upgrade Your Bath Game

Hey, I didn’t say baths were out! But the bubbles aren’t doing you any favors, and unfortunately, neither is the wine.

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. 

4. 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.

5. Escape with a Book – A Real Book (Yes, ACTUAL 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.

Each of these tools is designed to help regulate your nervous system by activating your parasympathetic “rest and digest” mode​.

When you regulate your nervous system, you’re not just doing it for yourself—you’re doing it for everyone around you. A grounded you is less reactive, more compassionate, and more able to handle the chaos that life inevitably throws your way.

Having a Hard Time? Questions to Ask Yourself:

• Where am I getting in my own way?

• What micro-adjustments can I make to redirect my thinking, feeling, and actions?

• How can I create the time and space for what truly matters?

When you show up grounded, you inspire calm and joy in everyone around you. And isn’t that the best gift of all?

P.S. Remember: self-care isn’t selfish. It’s necessary. And if you need inspiration for gifting, this list doubles as the ultimate holiday gift guide for someone you care about (including yourself).

P.P.S. Want a life that feels as good as these cozy rituals? That’s the heart of 'The HUSTLE Trap'. It’s about learning to calm the chaos within so you can create a life that feels aligned, fulfilling, and joyful.