December always arrives like a snow globe someone shook a little too hard. One minute I’m quietly sipping tea, and the next I’m juggling concerts, shopping, student energy that could power the province, and a half-frozen windshield. Every year I think I’ll be ready for it… and every year, December sneaks up on me.

But here’s the truth: feeling the chaos doesn’t mean you’re failing.
This season is just… a lot.

And yet, it’s also the easiest month to slip into old patterns of rushing, overcommitting, and forgetting every mindfulness practice we swear by in calmer months.

How about treating December as a kind of intentional slowdown rather than a sprint?

1. Start small

When the schedule fills up, we tend to abandon the practices that keep us steady. But your nervous system doesn’t need a 60-minute class; it needs 30 seconds of breath, or a quiet moment with your hand over your heart.

Some days, my “practice” is literally stepping into the staff bathroom, and taking three cleansing breaths. It sounds ridiculous, but it works.

2. Create a personal anchor

December becomes more manageable when there’s one thing you return to every day, something grounding.

I begin each morning with a cup of tea, a meditation (I use the Insight Meditation app), and 8 sun salutations..

Your anchor could be a short walk, a slow stretch, or a breathing exercise. What matters is that it’s yours.

3. Set boundaries

Last December, I said yes to way too much. By the last week before break, I was running out of steam.

This year, I’m practicing saying, “Not right now,” without apologizing for existing.

Try:
“I’d love to, but it’s been pretty busy,” or, “My social battery is low – can we revisit in January?”

Protecting your energy is not selfish. It’s sustainable.

4. keep it simple yet seasonal

This is actually one of the best times of year to weave in calm. Students crave it – and so do we.

A few easy seasonal practices:

• Mindful winter or holiday colouring pages
• Gratitude lists (they get surprisingly heartfelt in December)
• Snowflake breaths: imagine exhaling slowly enough to keep a snowflake floating
• Chair yoga to untangle shoulders that have been hunched since Halloween
• Quick reflection prompts on noticing, slowing down, or simply taking a pause

5. Think presence – not perfection

Some years my tree goes up on December 3rd; some years it goes up on the 17th. Either way, the world keeps turning.

I used to pressure myself to make everything magical. Now I’m more interested in making everything manageable. I’ve paired down the decorations, simplified the baking. Every little bit helps.

Just remember: December doesn’t have to look perfect. It just has to feel lived.

A Gentle Invitation

If you’ve been here a while, you know I only create resources I actually use or wish I had during the wildest stretch of the school year. This month can be overwhelming for teachers, students, and every nervous system in the room, but it doesn’t have to sweep you away.

The Holiday Mindfulness Bundle is my way of helping you bring in a little more calm, softness, and intention when you need it most.

You deserve a December that feels spacious, grounded, and just a little bit magical, even in the chaos.

Wishing you a mindfully magical holiday season! ❄️