Breathing: why you should schedule quiet time before the holidays hit

The moment the Halloween candy hits the shelves, it’s like a starter pistol for the holiday sprint. One minute you’re just entering sweater weather and the next, you’re surrounded by Christmas décor sales in September and “must-buy” gift guides. Somewhere between the pumpkin patch and the first snowflake, fall quietly vanishes under a blur of lists, parties, and expectations.

Before we’ve even carved the turkey, many of us are already tired. Between coordinating Thanksgiving menus, planning travel, and saying yes to party invites, the weeks ahead can feel like a hustle that starts in October and doesn’t end until New Year’s Day. The season meant for joy and connection can so easily become one long to-do list.

But what if the best way to prepare for the busiest season of the year isn’t to do more — it’s to pause first?

The cost of constant motion

It’s easy to forget each year that the seasons of joy and gratitude often arrive wrapped in stress. There are family feasts to plan, gifts to order, schedules to juggle, and a thousand tiny details to manage. Somewhere along the way, what should feel meaningful starts to feel mechanical.

We push ourselves to make it all “magical” — yet often end up feeling like we missed the heart of the celebration entirely. The endless motion leaves little space for thankfulness, presence, or peace.

Sometimes, the simplest way to recover joy is to slow down before the rush begins.

Why quiet matters — especially now

Our minds and bodies were never meant to live in constant motion. Quiet time — real, intentional stillness — is more than a luxury. It’s medicine for the soul.

Moments of rest lower stress, improve focus, and awaken creativity. They give us the margin we need to respond instead of react, to listen instead of rush. And in a season meant for connection, those quiet pauses help us show up calmer, kinder, and more grounded for the people we love.

Think of it as “pre-season peace.” Instead of waiting for burnout to hit before we rest, we can create small spaces of stillness now — before the calendar fills up. Paradoxically, it’s in the silence that we become most ready for celebration.

Practical ways to find breathing room before the holidays

You don’t need a cabin retreat or an empty schedule to reclaim calm this holiday season. When you start to feel the weight and overwhelm of planning, try these gentle ways to reset and create breathing room — right in the middle of life’s busyness. 

• Make space for prayer and reflection. Even a few quiet moments of prayer or journaling can ground your spirit. Soft classical or sacred music can become a gentle reminder to slow your breathing and lift your thoughts. These pauses don’t have to be complicated; they’re simply moments to reconnect with something deeper than the to-do list.
  
• Start small. Even five minutes in the car before heading home — phone down, radio off — can reset your mind and heart.
  
• Schedule a weekly pause. Block out time one morning or evening each week that’s just for quiet. No errands, no shopping lists — just a chance to exhale. Light a candle, sip tea, breathe deeply.
  
• Step outside. Take a walk and notice the changing season — the scent of leaves, the crisp air, the real world beyond the ads. Let nature’s rhythm remind you that slowing down is natural.
  
• Create tech-free zones. Give yourself a few hours each weekend or in the evenings without screens or holiday ads telling you to hurry. Quiet the noise before it multiplies.

• Implement a household moment of calm. On especially busy days, gather as a family or couple before bedtime, light a candle, share one thing you’re thankful for, and breathe together. Small rituals build quiet strength.
  
• Mark a “quiet day.” Choose one day — maybe the weekend before Thanksgiving or early December — to simply rest. Read, journal, take a solo coffee trip, or enjoy a slow family dinner or relaxing movie night.
  
• Make one thing easier this year. Plan to buy dessert instead of baking it. Drop or swap out one side dish. Simplify your table settings. A simple “no” makes more room for rest and connection.

Rethinking what the holidays are really for

When you look back, what do you remember most about past holidays? The perfect centerpiece? Or the laughter in the kitchen, the late-night talks, the small, imperfect moments of togetherness?

Maybe this year, success isn’t about doing more things but being more present. Slowing down doesn’t mean withdrawing; it means creating enough space to actually notice the grace of ordinary moments.

Carry the calm forward

At the heart of every deep breath is a reminder: Life isn’t meant to be lived at a sprint.

As the holidays unfold, hold onto the rhythm you’ve created — one that leaves room to rest, notice, and truly enjoy the people and moments that matter most. Breathe before you purchase. Pause before you say yes to one more thing. Leave margin for imperfection.

You don’t have to keep pace with the seasonal busyness. You can set your own. One that starts not with frenzy, but with peace and presence.