Setting Intentions for the Holiday Season
I am a last-minute holiday shopper. Last week, as I was making a list of gifts to buy, I accidentally typed “Holiday Pressures” instead of “Holiday Presents.” Honestly, that slip says it all. For many of us, this season can stir up a wide range of feelings—happiness, nostalgia, grief, overwhelm, stress—and it’s completely normal to move through several of these at once. All of it is welcome, and all of it makes sense.
During a time when we may feel pressure to do more, give more, and be more, it’s easy to become overwhelmed, burned out, or to place unrealistic expectations on ourselves.
One strategy I find especially helpful during periods of stress is choosing a few simple intentions to act as a guiding light. We can’t do everything, and we will inevitably drop the ball somewhere—so identifying what matters most can help us move through the season with more ease and self-compassion.
Your intention might be a sentence, a single word, or a grounding goal for the weeks ahead. There is no right or wrong, you choose what you are needing this holiday season. Here are a few ideas:
Focus on “good enough” rather than perfection
Slow down (your word might simply be “Slow”)
Stay consistent with your movement or self-care routines
Be flexible
Treat yourself
Practice self-compassion
Be present with family
A few of my own intentions this year:
Keep it simple — focus on quality over quantity
Savor — stay present and enjoy moments as they come instead of anticipating what’s next
You might choose to share your intention with a friend, jot it down in your phone, or place it on a sticky note where you’ll see it often.
Wishing you all warmth, care, and peace this holiday season.
~ Hannah Collentine-Cole, LCSW
Individual and Couples Therapy in Midtown Sacramento
