A Nervous System–First Approach to Navigating the Holidays
Amrita Ma Devi
The holidays have a way of turning the volume up on everything.
More noise. More expectations. More food, more travel, more family dynamics, more memories — both tender and unfinished.
Even the most grounded, self-aware people can feel their nervous system tighten during this time of year. If you’ve ever noticed yourself feeling more reactive, more tired, more anxious, more inflamed, or simply off around the holidays, you’re not broken.
Your body is doing exactly what a nervous system is designed to do when stress begins to stack. And this is the most important thing I want you to hear:
Healing doesn’t require a stress-free life.
It requires a nervous system that knows how to process stress.
Stress Isn’t One Thing — It’s a Layering
Stress rarely comes from just one place. During the holidays, it tends to arrive in layers:
• emotional stress from family dynamics or old roles
• physical stress from travel, disrupted sleep, sugar, alcohol, and irregular meals
• mental stress from expectations and pressure to “enjoy it all”
• nervous system stress from overstimulation and loss of routine
Your body doesn’t separate these inputs. To the nervous system, stress is simply stress.
When the load becomes too heavy, the body moves into protection mode. You may notice fatigue, tension, digestive issues, mood changes, inflammation, or a sense of being on edge. These aren’t failures — they’re signals.
The goal isn’t to eliminate stress altogether (that’s neither possible nor necessary). The goal is to lower the overall load and increase your capacity to meet what’s already here.
Why I Don’t Aim for Perfection — I Aim for Regulation
During the holidays, I don’t strive for perfection.
I aim for regulation. That means reducing unnecessary stress wherever possible and making choices that support my nervous system rather than deplete it.
For example, I don’t eat sugar during this season — not because sugar is “bad,” but because it’s a physiological stressor. It spikes blood sugar, disrupts sleep, increases inflammation, and places extra demand on an already taxed system. There’s enough stimulation during this time of year; my body doesn’t need more.
This isn’t about restriction or discipline. It’s about discernment — listening to what my body actually needs.
Sleep Is Medicine
Sleep is one of the most powerful regulators of the nervous system.
It’s where integration, repair, and emotional processing happen.
During the holidays, sleep is often the first thing sacrificed — yet it’s the very thing that helps us stay regulated.
I protect my sleep like medicine.
I aim for consistency where I can.
I reduce evening stimulation.
I get natural light in the morning.
I say no when something would cost me deep rest.
A regulated nervous system begins with rest.
Emotional Processing Is Part of Healing
Time with family can stir things we didn’t plan for — old identities, childhood wounds, grief, resentment, longing. None of this means you’re “going backwards.”
When emotions arise, the body is asking for acknowledgement, not suppression. When feelings are ignored or overridden, they don’t disappear — they lodge themselves in the body.
I make space to name what I’m feeling without judgment.
I allow emotions to move through me rather than managing or bypassing them. I gently remind my body: I am safe to process my emotions without judgment or that inner critic, and that I am ready to meet myself with love and compassion. This alone can dramatically soften how the holidays live inside you.
Nourishment Over Control
Rather than obsessing over what you shouldn’t eat or do, I invite you to ask a different question:
What supports my nervous system right now?
Simple things matter more than we realise:
Staying hydrated (dehydration itself is a stress signal)
Eating enough protein to stabilise blood sugar
Including vegetables for minerals and grounding
Eating regularly to reduce unpredictability
Gentle movement to discharge tension
Pausing throughout the day to breathe and arrive
These are not small acts, even though they might seem bite-sized in proportion. They create a sense of safety at a cellular level.
The Holidays Are Not a Test
The holidays are not a measure of how “healed” you are. They are an opportunity to practice being with yourself differently. You don’t need to perfect your routine. You don’t need to eliminate stress. You don’t need to get it all right. You simply need to stay connected.
Each time you choose rest over pushing, nourishment over restriction, feeling over suppression, and response over reaction — you teach your nervous system something new. And this is where healing truly begins from the inside out. Your body is always listening. And it is always doing its best to guide you home.
The Future of Healing Is Feminine
Come home to yourself inside the Sacred Vitality Collective. Our free community is a gentle space for healing, reflection, and nervous-system support.
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