Navigating holiday season stress.

As the holiday season approaches, it brings with it a unique set of challenges, particularly for women in leadership positions. This period is often characterized by an increase in both professional and personal responsibilities, leading to heightened stress levels.

So, let’s explore how you can be more kind to yourself at this busy time of year, from an embodied leadership perspective, with a simple practice to help you cope with stress.

Why are the holidays stressful?

The festive period can exacerbate the pressure to perform at our peak in all aspects of life.

This heightened state of vigilance, though beneficial in managing our professional duties, often impedes our ability to fully relax and engage in meaningful personal interactions. We forget to embrace the natural messiness of life, and can set ourselves up in the perfection trap, as we seek to make everything perfect, rather than just relaxing and having fun.

If you’re feeling stressed out at this time, it’s important to recognise this and take proactive steps to reduce unnecessary stress and take care of yourself.

Please accept yourself, and don’t beat yourself up about feeling stressed and overwhelmed at this time. It takes a lot of effort to relax and experience true joy.

Understanding hyper-vigilance.

Hyper-vigilance is defined as a state of being highly alert to potential danger or threat. Our body’s innate intelligence activates this mechanism so we can survive in the world. This is evolutionary and it can also be something we’ve learnt from a young age.

The benefit of this in the working world is that it helps us to be on top of things, and to watch for potential issues that might arise in your working day. It’s an unconscious way for your body to deal with a high-pressure work environment.

However, it becomes an issue when you live in this state all the time, without even realizing it. At work, and at home. This means it’s really hard for you to relax and let go at the full body level, which means you’ll find yourself turning to other things to help relax' - whether that’s alcohol, food, or anything else that helps you sedate your body and let go of control and fear, albeit temporarily.

Reducing stress.

Here’s a somatic practice you can use for the next few weeks, to help you when you feel yourself stressed out or in ‘go-go’ mode.

This technique involves a physical and mental 'leaning back,' a deliberate shift from a state of heightened alertness to one of relaxation.

First, accept that if you’re in a hyper-vigilant state, it’s not your fault. Your nervous system is doing its job, and responding to the stress around you in the only way it knows how. It’s also can be a life-long coping mechanism for most of us.

Then, take a moment to see your body as a fully-dimensioned object - with a front, back, top and bottom. When we’re hyper-vigilant, we’re naturally very outwardly focused, and we move towards awareness in the front of the body.

When you feel yourself start to panic, with a fluttering heart and compulsive thoughts, imagine yourself leaning into the back of your body. Think of it as the front of your body visibly leaning into the back of your spine, for support all the way from the top of your head to the soles of your feet. Be gentle and go slowly. The first time, close your eyes as you imagine it. At first, it will feel a bit awkward.

Once you’ve done this exercise a few times, you don’t need to close your eyes.

It’s something you can do 10 times or more a day, while sitting in a meeting, or while standing with people. It’s a very receptive position, and once you do it over and over, it is easier to rest into yourself, and feel support from within your own body. This practice requires patience and consistency, but the results can be subtle yet profound in your life.

To reap the full benefits of this exercise, consistency is key. Incorporating this practice into your daily routine can significantly improve your ability to manage stress and maintain a clear, focused mindset. Over time, this will not only enhance your performance in the workplace but also improve your overall quality of life.

New programs for 2024.

In recognition of the ongoing challenges faced by women leaders, I am excited to announce the launch of my signature programs in Feb 2024, that has brought life-changing results for my clients in corporate, business & medical communities. These programs are designed to support women in cultivating a balanced approach to leadership, encompassing both professional excellence and personal well-being.

For those interested in exploring these opportunities further, I encourage you to reach out. Together, we can work towards a more holistic approach to leadership, ensuring that we not only succeed in our roles but also thrive as individuals.

As we navigate the complexities of the holiday season and beyond, let us remember the importance of self-care and mindful leadership. May this time be not only productive but also rejuvenating.

Wishing you all a peaceful and prosperous holiday season and new year.