Surviving the Holidays: A Guide for the Highly Sensitive

Yolima
Nov 14
3 min read

Updated: Nov 19

If you’re anything like me...empathetic, intuitive, and deeply sensitive, November has probably felt like a lot. Not just politically… but energetically.

We’ve had wave after wave of intense, heavy, buzzing energy hitting the planet, and sensitive bodies feel it first.

So if you’re tired, overwhelmed, overstimulated, or simply “off,” you’re not alone! This season asks us to slow down, protect our energy, and reconnect with what our bodies are trying to tell us.

Here are a few suggestions for surviving the holidays with your sanity, softness, and power intact.

LISTEN to Your Body

Your body is speaking to you every single day. Some days it needs rest. Some days it needs stillness. Some days it needs movement, hydration, or a break from people.

The question is: Are you listening?

Take a moment each morning (or whenever you remember) to check in:

What does my body need to feel safe today?
What would help me feel supported?
What would help me feel validated and seen?

Your body isn’t dramatic. It’s honest. And the more you listen, the easier it becomes to navigate chaos without losing yourself. More importantly, you'll notice energy drains, which might be people and or situations, which is essential information.

Your Feelings Are Valid. Period.

If you feel it, it’s real. Don’t let anyone.... including yourself, dismiss, minimize, or talk you out of your emotional truth.

Instead, try this:

Notice the feeling.
Name the feeling.
Allow the feeling.

You don’t have to fix it or justify it. You just have to notice it.

I'd STRONGLY suggest journaling.

It’s Okay to Say NO (and You Should)

Your “yes” means nothing if you never give yourself permission to say “no.” (SO TRUE)

During the holidays, everyone wants something: time, energy, money, or emotional investment, but you cannot pour from an empty cup. If you do, you end up resentful or sick.

Give yourself full permission to:

Say no to events you don’t have the energy for
Leave early
Excuse yourself from stressful conversations
Take breaks, naps, or moments alone
Cancel plans if your body says “not today”
Choose peace over pleasing
To change your mind

Saying no doesn’t make you difficult. It makes you self-respecting.

The more you protect your energy, the more fully you can show up for the things and people that truly matter.

Make Time to Ask: “What Does My Body Need to Feel Supported and Loved Today?”

As we start gearing up for the holiday season, our bodies begin to run on more than autopilot. It's all about accomplishing tasks that are time-sensitive that demands our attention, but somewhere lost in the receipts, rushing to pick up last-minute items, we lose ourselves.

We strongly encourage you to take a quiet moment each day to ask:

“What does my body need to feel supported and loved today?”

The answer might be rest, warmth, space, movement, hydration, silence, or simply a pause.

This tiny check-in grounds your nervous system, reconnects you to your needs, and reminds your body that you’re listening.

Your body always knows.

Give it the time to speak.

The holidays can test even the strongest nervous systems. But with awareness, boundaries, and honest body-listening, you can move through this season with more grounding, clarity, and gentleness toward yourself. In the end, profound change doesn't have to be complicated or labor intensive. It needs to be intentional.

In Health and Wellness

The Trillium Team