how self-awareness as an hsp can protect you from holiday chaos
Holidays are always a stressful time for HSPs because, let’s face it, there’s a lot to deal with.
My parents divorced when I was younger and since then, my holidays have become a single day that’s spread between multiple families and locations.
It’s an energy-spending day of traveling back and forth across town and mingling with groups of people from dawn until dusk. And by the end of it, I can’t seem to tell which way is up or down.
As an HSP, this time of year has put me through the wringer — physically, mentally, and emotionally. None of which is any way to celebrate and enjoy the festivities with loved ones.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Want to know the secret to surviving the holidays as an HSP? A strong sense of self-awareness.
This means being in-tune with both your state of mind and body - what you’re feeling and what your body is trying to tell you.
Identifying emotional red flags before they escalate can help lessen your anxieties before they boil over and wreak havoc on your nervous system.
With so much stimulation happening over the holidays, situations are bound to happen that you can’t control.
But your true power lies in how you react to these whirlwind situations of sensory overload and emotional stimuli. By knowing your limits, you’ll be better equipped at protecting your well-being.
Below are some tips designed to help you recognize emotional triggers and the best ways to prepare for them ahead of time.
1. Know What Triggers You
Practicing greater self-awareness means understanding your triggers. As an HSP, becoming overstimulated is easy, but more so around the holidays thanks to all the hustle and bustle.
Does going home make you feel lonely, rather than nurtured? Does spending too much time with a family member drain your energy? Does the constant noise of a busy holiday party make it hard for you to feel at ease?
Consider making a list of triggers that tend to spring up around this time of year. Take the time to identify these triggers, how they make you feel, and why, before you dive into the holiday chaos to find better clarity within yourself.
2. Show Compassion (For Others and For Yourself)
The holidays can be a lonely time for many. If they tend to be hard for you because of memories, family dynamic, or it’s simply just too overwhelming — understand that others feel the same way.
As an HSP, you’re more aware of emotions and as such, naturally have a way of being compassionate, so this is the perfect time to utilize one of your greatest strengths. Just remember to include yourself in the equation.
As Jack Kornfield, American author and Buddhist practitioner states, “If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.”
3. Create Boundaries Ahead of Time
Taking the time to understand your triggers can prepare you before the holiday celebrations begin by identifying what boundaries you will need to establish. Be honest with yourself about what you can handle and what is too much.
For example, if you have no choice but to spend an evening in the same household as an energy-sucking family member, choose how long you are willing to stay (no matter what!) and set those expectations in the beginning of the evening.
If leaving at a desired time isn't an option, know which rooms in the house you can make a quiet getaway to recharge from mind-boggling stimuli.
Overall, creating boundaries can help protect your energy so you can feel more present instead of overwhelmed.
4. Plan An Intimate Celebration
There’s nothing that says HSPs don’t enjoy being around family and friends. HSPs tend to absorb every detail around them with a heightened sense, leaving them feeling drained quickly and in need to recuperate.
If you tend to be overwhelmed by parties and rooms full of people but you still want to celebrate the holidays, why not plan something for you and a few of your favorite people? This can include:
A small dinner party
A night of hot cocoa and holiday movies (and pajamas!)
A small gift exchange
A soiree of cookie decorating (and eating!)
A night of listening to favorite holiday tunes
You can think of it as a time to show appreciation for the people you have made an impact on your life and bring more meaning to the holiday season.
5. Define what “holiday” means to you
If you look up similar meanings to “holiday,” you’ll find the words like “celebration” and “festivities.” However, you’ll also find it can mean “break”, “time off”, and “vacation.”
As an HSP, taking a break or time off from the chaos of everyday work and responsibilities sounds pretty good, right? So why trade in one form of chaos for another?
Everyone has the right to celebrate in their own way. It’s understandable that some personal values might majorly clash during this time (e.g. if family means a lot to you, but having too many people in the room at once is overwhelming), but defining “holiday” for yourself can be extremely powerful.
You will find that you will be more at peace to celebrate the holidays the way you feel is right for you, based on your personal needs.
Conclusion
The holidays are a time for celebration but they don’t have to drag you down with the chaos. Setting boundaries, planning smaller gatherings, and defining what this time of year means to you are great ways to prepare yourself ahead of time.
Being self-aware of your triggers before they hit means taking a proactive approach to protecting yourself by creating boundaries, so you can relax and enjoy some time off with the people you care about.
As Emily P. Freeman, author of The Next Right Thing, writes, “We can't prevent storms from coming, but we can decide not to invent our own.”
Remember, you can’t always control what happens, especially during this time of year, but you are in 100% control of how you react — that is your superpower!
Be sure to check in with how you’re feeling and take care of yourself.
Happy Holidays!