Being Still in the Holidays

Christmastime conjures images of stressed shoppers, hyperactive children and tired workers. As fun as this season is with all it brings it is also exhausting. We need to make time among the family gatherings and festivities to sit down and be still.

While some people might thrive on the busyness and never seem to stop this is not healthy. Being still gives us energy, it soothes the nervous system and gives time for our brains to process all the information we have absorbed. It allows us to hear our thoughts and reflect.

Bear in mind that being still does not mean you have to be physically still although you can if you choose. Being still means to be still in our minds and hearts, to be at peace regardless of our circumstances. It means that we have to stop fighting the battles we can’t win on our own and give them to God, it means trusting God with everything and knowing everything will work out according to God’s plan. To let go of all our worries and anxieties and just be present with Him.

There is no right way to be still, everyone has their different preferences on how they relax and what will re-energise them. The principle of being still is to make it as simple as possible. To be practiced anywhere and if you are busy you can even schedule it to make sure you have time for it. So take some time to think about what re-energises you, what do you find relaxing? What can you do to be still?

Ideas to inspire you to want to be still.

Take some time to yourself and open up your journal. Write everything that comes to mind, your worries, your dreams, what you’re thankful for. Or reflect on the past year and what your hopes are for this season and for the year ahead.
Have an at-home spa day/night. Turn the lo-fi music on, put some bubbles into the bath and treat yourself to a time of blissful relaxation.
Go for a walk without listening to music. Unplug for a while and listen to the sounds of nature, of life going on around you and breathe in that fresh air.
Close your eyes and just let your mind run wild for a few minutes. Let your imagination be free to create insane and wonderful ideas as you escape reality for a little while.
Tell God about your stresses and the problems in your life, with a pen in hand draw out the names of the people you are praying for and doodle as you talk to keep you focused.
Choose a place to lie down and turn the lights down low. Take a few moments to just be present where you are without concerning yourself with your current stresses.
Sit on a bench beside the sea and listen to the sound of the tide ebbing and flowing, hear the cries of a seagull and the gust of the wind. Watch the tide as it ripples towards the horizon and back again. Let the sound of the waves soothe you.
Put your feet up after a long day and open up that book you’ve been wanting to read, or watch a Christmas film you’ve been wanting to see. Get yourself a mug of hot chocolate and some of your favourite snacks, grab a blanket and just get cosy.
It’s been a while since you’ve had some undisturbed time with God, so you open your Bible and take some time to study the scriptures with a notebook at hand to pen anything that has stuck out to you. Followed by some time just sitting in God’s presence and listening to what He has to say.
Let out your inner child and let your creativity loose with a colouring book. Let the movement of the pen or pencil bring you peace as you unwind.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth”.
Psalms 46:10

I hope these ideas have inspired you but if not remember that it can be as easy as closing your eyes for a few moments on your commute back from work. I hope you find peace in the stillness this Christmas and into the New Year too.

Sources of Inspiration:

Tartakovsky, M. (2022) The Power in Being Still and How to Practice Stillness. Available at: The Power of Being Still: 6 Ways to Practice Stillness (psychcentral.com) [Accessed 14 December 2023]

Andre. (2022) 3 Ways to Being Still. Available at: 3 Ways To Being Still – (livingourpriorities.com) [Accessed 14 December 2023]