Written by Adeline J. Wells
The holidays are generally thought of as a joyous time. Lights, glitter, trees, a collage of gifts. Time spent with loved ones, celebrating the year’s end and the beginning of the next. However, this time of year can also carry its own sense of weight, particularly after a year marked by grief and hardship for many. Especially so when the hope of the next is also cloaked in uncertainty. This joy and weight are dual entities, and it can feel difficult to reconcile the two; to hold each one in the palm of our hands while looking ahead at what is to come. One thing that makes it a touch easier is seeking peace. Here are a few ways to orient this end of the year around peace – not just finding it, but allowing it to guide you through the holiday season.
Spend Time in Nature
There is no shortage of studies about the positive effects that time spent in nature has on one’s well-being. According to UCLA Health, exposure to nature can boost the immune system, support cognitive functions, and lower blood pressure, anxiety, and stress, leading to improved mental health.
In the Mojave Desert, we are fortunate to be surrounded by stunning desert landscapes and temperate temperatures that make them easy to enjoy year-round. However, during my visit to 20-degree Wisconsin in late November, I found myself struck by how much time spent in nature can soothe the soul, even when it is cold. I took a midnight walk around my parents' neighborhood as it gently snowed, and the quiet that I felt within me matched the quiet outside.
Strolling through a park, meditating or reading on a bench, lying in the grass, going for a hike. All are excellent ideas for connecting with nature, something that is eternally centered on change and growth.
Disconnect from Technology
It is no secret that technology — while not without benefits — is also a source of strain on the human psyche. The constant news updates are overwhelming at best, and when the news is marred by tragedy and rage, debilitating at worst. Social media applications like Instagram and TikTok can send people down rabbit holes of comparison and distorted reality. Both can lead to increased anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, and general worsening of mental health.
Disconnecting from technology over the holiday season is a small way to take control back over its encroachment on daily life. Some may opt to turn off notifications or delete the applications for a period of time. Several applications also allow for time restrictions to be imposed, limiting the time one spends. Whatever method you choose, implementing it works to prioritize your peace. Rather than embedding yourself in others’ lives, doing so opens the space to connect deeper to your own life and all the value that it holds, even in all its messiness and imperfections. The fact that it is real is what makes it meaningful, and the fact that it is yours.
Mindful, Meaningful Conversations
Whether you plan to share the holidays with loved ones, expect to meet new people, or hope to enjoy solitude at the end of the year, seek to have interactions with others that are steeped in meaning and kindness. Times are tough, and the world seems pretty dim — be considerate with others’ energies when you speak to them. It is always a good idea to inquire ifother parties have the capacity for discussions that may land on a heavier note.
Further, hold to the boundaries that you require to protect your own energy. Don’t be afraid to shut down any conversations that you feel will not serve your peace, and redirect to something that will. Growth-oriented discussions about upcoming plans, dreams, and hopes for the world are a good place to begin, keeping conversations honest and looking up.
To a bright, peaceful 2026.
