Hey friend! Lori & Ana here ❤️

The weather is changing all around us — the air feels crisp, and the trees are painting the world in color. It’s a beautiful reminder that the holiday season is just around the corner, with Thanksgiving less than two weeks away.

As you start making your holiday to-do list — the gifts to buy, meals to plan, and gatherings to attend — don’t forget to add yourself to that list. It’s so easy to get swept up in the busyness and overlook your own needs, but your well-being matters just as much as the festivities. Take time to slow down, breathe, and care for your body, mind, and heart this season. When you’re nourished and rested, you can show up more fully for the people and moments that mean the most.

And through it all, remember — true peace doesn’t come from a perfectly planned holiday. It comes from resting in God’s presence. When we pause long enough to invite Him into our schedule, our stress, and even our celebrations, He brings calm to the chaos and joy to the ordinary.

This season doesn’t have to be about doing more — it can be about *being* more present. When we care for ourselves in simple, intentional ways, we make room to notice God’s goodness in the middle of it all.

**So before the holiday rush sweeps in, take a moment to pause and reflect on what your soul truly needs. Here are 5 simple ways to nurture your well-being this holiday season to get you started.**

5 Tips For Well-Being This Holiday Season

🎁 Imagine your holiday season. What does it feel like? What will you do more or less of? Intentionally build margin into your day, learn how to below. Use these moments to pause, breathe, and reset your heart and mind toward what’s most important. Take a 5-minute prayer break whenever stress spikes.

Start setting boundaries

🎁 Take Every Thought Captive. Refocus your mind on what’s real and present—not the what-ifs. This simple shift opens space for peace, reminding you that God meets you in truth, not in worry. When you notice a fearful thought, counter it with truth. Replace the anxious statement with a Scripture or affirmation grounded in God’s Word. ExampleThought: “I’ll disappoint them.”Truth: “I am God’s child. His love for me isn’t earned by my performance.” (Psalm 139:14; Romans 8:38–39)

🎁 Turn Comparison into Compassion. When we start comparing ourselves, we can pause and ask,
“How can I use what God’s given me to bless someone today?”

→If you’re creative, make something for a friend.

→If you’re a good listener, check in on someone who’s struggling.

→If you’re organized, help a family member prepare for a gathering.

Serving shifts your focus from what you lack to how you can love.

🎁 Find Hope in the Lonely Moments. We know the holidays can feel especially heavy when you’re feeling alone. When loneliness creeps in, text a friend, call a family member, or even strike up a conversation at church or the store.

🎁 Extend grace when you're not feeling holly jolly. We don’t have to force joy or hide our pain. God isn’t asking for our perfection. We can bring Him our tears, our ache, and our questions. Sometimes the most beautiful worship sounds like this simple prayer: “Lord, we miss them. We feel alone. But we know You are here.”

As you move through the season, remember: taking care of yourself isn’t selfish — it’s necessary. When you pause, breathe, and lean into God’s presence, you create space to experience the holidays with more peace, joy, and intention.

If you’re ready to go deeper, we’d love for you to join our 5-Week Holiday Devotional Series, where we’ll walk through some of the most common struggles this season brings and discover God’s guidance and encouragement together: