The festive period can be a beautiful time of year, but it can also be incredibly challenging. Routines change, expectations rise, social calendars fill up, people feel financial pressure, and old family dynamics often resurface. Many of us end up emotionally stretched and overwhelmed long before the big day arrives.

So in this episode, host Gabby Sanderson shares "Tools to Keep a Calm Christmas" eight simple, effective tools to help you stay grounded, protected, and emotionally steady over the holidays. You can try them all, or choose the ones that feel right for you. And at the end of the episode, there’s a short grounding meditation to help you reset.

Tool 1: The Boundaries Reset
Protect your energy by saying no when you need to, and choosing plans that genuinely support your wellbeing.
Tool 2: Letting Go of the ‘Perfect Christmas’ Myth
Release the pressure to create a flawless holiday — real, imperfect Christmases are often the calmest and most meaningful.
Tool 3: Anchoring Your Nervous System
Use quick grounding techniques like slow breathing, softening your shoulders, or stepping outside to bring your body back into calm. Gabby guides you into an exercise.
Tool 4: The Money-Pressure Diffuser
Take the financial stress down by setting clear spending limits and remembering that thoughtfulness matters far more than cost.
Tool 5: A Plan for Loneliness (Even If You’re Surrounded by People)
Create gentle structure, small moments of connection, and comforting rituals to support yourself if the season feels emotionally heavy.
Tool 6: The Family Dynamics Shield
Notice old patterns, stay grounded, and remind yourself that you can choose your responses, even in challenging family situations.
Tool 7: The “Good Enough” Christmas Reframe
Let “good enough” be the goal — good enough food, good enough plans, good enough energy — and allow that to be more than enough.
Tool 8: Easing the Pressure of the New Year
You don’t need resolutions or reinvention; a softer approach with light reflection and gentle intentions can ease the transition into January.

Tune in now for a calm, grounding, and supportive listen — and give yourself the gentlest Christmas you can.

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