Protecting Your Peace This Holiday Season

Written By Jenna Magee

The holiday season is often described as joyful and magical, yet for many women it can also feel overwhelming, emotionally charged, and physically exhausting. Expectations increase, routines shift, and social demands multiply , all while many are already carrying full plates.

Protecting your peace during the holidays isn’t about doing less out of avoidance; it’s about caring for your nervous system, mental health, and overall well-being.

Stress, the Nervous System, and the Holidays

Psychological and physiological stress tend to rise during the holiday season. Research shows that increased social obligations, financial pressures, disrupted sleep, and emotional expectations can elevate stress hormones such as cortisol (American Psychological Association, 2023).

When stress remains elevated, it can impact:

  • Mood and emotional regulation

  • Sleep quality

  • Immune function

  • Digestion and appetite

  • Mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression

For pregnant and postpartum women, this stress load can be especially significant, as the body is already undergoing major hormonal, neurological, and physiological changes (ACOG, 2020).

Why Protecting Your Peace Matters

Protecting your peace is not a luxury, it’s essential

Studies show that emotional stress during pregnancy and postpartum can influence maternal mental health, bonding, and recovery (World Health Organization, 2022). Supporting emotional regulation through rest, boundaries, and social support has been associated with improved postpartum outcomes and reduced risk of anxiety and depression (Dennis & Dowswell, 2013).

Peace is not about eliminating stress entirely, but about creating buffers that help the nervous system return to a state of safety and balance.

Boundaries Support Mental Health

Boundaries are one of the most effective tools for reducing stress. Research on interpersonal stress consistently shows that individuals who set and maintain boundaries experience lower psychological distress and improved well-being (Katherine et al., 2019).

During the holidays, protecting your peace may include:

  • Limiting the number of gatherings you attend

  • Leaving events earlier than planned

  • Declining conversations that feel intrusive or emotionally taxing

  • Reducing expectations around hosting or performance

Boundaries can be compassionate, flexible, and quiet , they do not require explanation or justification.

For Pregnant and Postpartum Mothers

If you are pregnant or newly postpartum, your nervous system is more sensitive by design. This heightened sensitivity supports bonding and attunement, but it also means overstimulation and stress can be felt more deeply (Hofer, 2019).

Protecting your peace during this time might look like:

  • Prioritizing rest and nourishment

  • Spending more time at home

  • Limiting visitors

  • Asking for practical support

  • Choosing environments that feel calm and safe

Rest in the postpartum period is strongly linked to improved physical recovery, lactation outcomes, and mental health (ACOG, 2020).

Rest Is a Biological Need, Not a Reward

Modern culture often treats rest as something to be earned. However, neuroscience and sleep research consistently show that rest is essential for cognitive function, emotional regulation, and immune health (Walker, 2017).

Chronic sleep deprivation and overstimulation can:

  • Increase anxiety and irritability

  • Impair decision-making

  • Reduce emotional resilience

Choosing rest , even in small doses , is one of the most effective ways to protect your peace during busy seasons.

Peace Can Be Found in Small Moments

Protecting your peace doesn’t require drastic changes. Research on mindfulness and stress reduction highlights that small, intentional pauses can significantly reduce stress markers and improve emotional regulation (Kabat-Zinn, 2003).

Peace can be found in:

  • Slowing your breath

  • Stepping outside for fresh air

  • Drinking something warm

  • Reducing screen time

  • Allowing yourself to do less

These small practices support nervous system regulation and help restore a sense of grounding.

A Gentle Closing

You are not required to move through this season the way everyone else does.

Protecting your peace is an act of self-respect, not selfishness. Whether that means simplifying traditions, resting more, or asking for support, you are allowed to choose what feels sustainable for you and your family.

At Vivara, we believe care should feel like a soft landing , especially during seasons that already ask so much of you.

If this holiday season feels heavy, know you’re not alone. And if protecting your peace means reaching out for support, we’re here when you need us.

References

  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). (2020). Optimizing postpartum care.

  • American Psychological Association. (2023). Stress in America™: The state of our nation.

  • Dennis, C.-L., & Dowswell, T. (2013). Psychosocial and psychological interventions for preventing postpartum depression. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

  • Hofer, M. A. (2019). Hidden regulators in attachment, separation, and loss. Harvard University Press.

  • Kabat-Zinn, J. (2003). Mindfulness-based interventions in context. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice.

  • Walker, M. (2017). Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams. Scribner.

  • World Health Organization. (2022). Maternal mental health and well-being.

Jenna Magee
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Matrescence and the Postpartum Transition