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Are you already feeling the stress of the holiday season? For those living with a health condition, this time of year can feel overwhelming with endless to-do lists, social commitments, and the pressure to keep up. In Episode 48 of Wellbeing Interrupted, I share strategies to help you manage holiday stress while protecting your health and energy. Let’s focus on ways to make this season more manageable and enjoyable. 

Why the Festive Season Feels Hard with a Health Condition 

Living with a health condition often means the festive season comes with extra challenges. The pressure to tick everything off your to-do list or meet social expectations can leave you feeling drained before the celebrations even begin. 

For me, the end of the year always brings reflection. Last year, I was processing the emotional impact of surgeries and treatments. This year, I’ve moved to a new home and had a busy, exhausting year. These moments of reflection are important, but they can also add to the stress of the season when energy levels are already stretched thin. 

Grounding Techniques to Manage End-of-Year Stress 

When the busyness of the season takes over, staying grounded is key. Are you finding your calendar overwhelming or your to-do list never-ending? Pause and bring your focus back to the present moment. 

For me, this means stepping outside, taking a few deep breaths, and grounding myself in the moment. Even small actions like this can help clear your mind and lower stress. Another strategy is to prioritise your tasks. Focus on what really needs to be done and let go of what isn’t essential. It’s about conserving energy for what matters most—your health and enjoying this time. 

Shifting Frustration During the Festive Season 

Feeling frustrated is natural during the festive season, especially when living with a health condition. It might be watching others do things that feel out of reach or reflecting on the challenges you’ve faced throughout the year. That frustration is valid—acknowledge it. 

Then, shift your focus. Writing down what’s frustrating you can help let it out, but following it up with a focus on gratitude makes a big difference. What are you looking forward to this season? What or who are you most grateful for? Shifting your energy toward gratitude helps you focus on what truly matters. 

Adapting Traditions to Protect Your Health 

Being flexible with your plans is one of the best ways to protect your health and still enjoy the festive season. It’s okay to adapt traditions to fit your needs. This year, for example, I’m celebrating Christmas at a restaurant with family. It’s not what I might have imagined, but it allows me to connect with loved ones while keeping things manageable. 

What matters is finding ways to bring joy into your life, even if it means doing things differently. Flexibility isn’t about giving in to your condition—it’s about finding what works best for you. 

Simple Ways to Enjoy the Festive Season with a Health Condition 

Here’s a quick recap of the tips we’ve covered to help you thrive during the festive season: 

1. Stay Grounded: When stress builds up, take a moment to focus on the present. Grounding exercises like stepping outside for fresh air or prioritising your to-do list can help you feel calmer and more in control. 
2. Shift Frustration to Gratitude: Acknowledge the frustration that can come with living with a health condition, especially during this busy time of year. Let it out, and then refocus your energy on what you’re grateful for and what truly matters to you. 
3. Be Flexible: Adapting your traditions and plans can help protect your health while still bringing joy into the season. Flexibility is about finding what works best for you, not giving in to your condition. 

If you’d like more practical ways to embrace life and ignite a healing mindset, visit hurdle2hope.com/transform. You’ll find my MindBodySpirit Festival presentation, where I dive deeper into the mindset shifts of strength, power and resilience. Plus you will receive a free downloadable workbook to help you apply them in your own life. 

Make this festive season about protecting your energy and enjoying what matters most. 

Show Resources 

• Episode 41: Reiki and its Benefits for People with Health Conditions Listen Here  

• Transform Health: Mindset Shifts for Healing Access Here 

Transcript Episode 48: Holiday Stress: Tips for Thriving with a Health Condition 

[00:00:00] Teisha Rose: Hey there, Teisha here, and welcome to episode 48 of Wellbeing Interrupted. I'm feeling very zen, very chilled out, still in my retreat bubble. I've been away in Hepburn Springs. If you live in Victoria, Australia, you'll know what a beautiful spot. That is, and I was on a retreat and I was actually on a retreat run by Lisa, the Reiki master, who we met on this podcast in episode 41.

[00:00:37] So it was the perfect time to, I guess, reflect a little bit on the massive year it's been. And Even though I had the amazing news last week, which I probably haven't shared with you, so last week I found out that my cancer is still in remission, which is just incredible. It hasn't come back to my liver or to my bones.

[00:01:02] So that's amazing, but good news doesn't mean I don't need to keep working on myself. And having this retreat, going on this retreat and really focusing inwardly, it just helps so much. And My challenge now is to ensure that with the stress and all the noise and all the busyness leading into the holiday season and into Christmas, that I protect my energy and don't get caught up too much in that.

[00:01:43] Um, because Living with a chronic illness, living with a health condition, this time of year can be exhausting. It can be frustrating because you can't really keep up and you want to make sure you don't run yourself down. So that's what I'm going to talk about in this week's episode. How we can embrace this season,

[00:02:14] Welcome to Wellbeing Interrupted, the podcast dedicated to exploring the transformative power of a healing mindset. I'm Teisha Rose, your host for today. and the founder of Hurdle2Hope. If you're on a quest to not just survive but thrive after a life changing diagnosis, then you're definitely in the right place.

[00:02:37] Living with MS and now stage 4 breast cancer has taught me a vital lesson. In the face of a life changing illness, our mindset is everything. Each week I'll share insights, tips and strategies to help you build a happier, healthier,

[00:02:59] So let's begin your journey from hurdle to hope starting right now. So we're in the first week of December. The calendar shows that Christmas is very close by. And I'm not sure about you, but what I've usually done during this time is all of a sudden go into, um, A bit of stress mode, panic mode, about what a huge to do list I have, and only a few weeks to get through that.

[00:03:35] Even things like Christmas shopping. There was all the Black Friday sales over the weekend. I'm really actually glad I was able to do that. Away on my retreat because even that starts my adrenaline. I get a little bit stressed about what presents to buy, whether we should be buying ourselves things that are on sale.

[00:03:58] So that I find stressful. Then I start thinking about Friends I want to catch up with, who I can see in the next couple of weeks, because the connection with friends is so important, but also I know I have to make sure my health is okay. And then during this time, if you're living with a health condition, it is a time where we start reflecting and thinking about, wow, what a year it's been.

[00:04:30] Last year, I was reflecting on Having my single mastectomies and the emotional impact that had. This year, I'm thinking, wow, it's been such a busy year. We've moved to Daisy Hill, packing up a house, selling a house, building, trying to get through that. So all of this, these things have happened as well. So that crosses through your mind.

[00:04:59] But instead of just sitting with that, we have this added stress of. All these things that we have to do. So what I want to do here is if you are starting to feel stressed. One thing I really encourage you to do is to stay in the moment. And what I mean by that, because I talk about this all the time, is just find some way to bring your focus back to the present.

[00:05:35] So if you're, your mind's racing If you feel anxious, if you think, oh my goodness, look at my diary, there's so much to do, look at the to do list, there's so much to do, then find something that brings you straight back down to the present. For me, that is going outside. Just even a few deep breaths, feeling connected to the earth, feeling supported by the earth, or going for a gentle walk, going down to the beach, which I can't do now, but if you're close to the water, or just doing something that stops you from feeling Thinking ahead.

[00:06:24] And even though that sounds really simple, doing something like that every morning leading up to Christmas will help. Or even in those moments where you're feeling overwhelmed and feeling like there's so much to do, ground yourself. Focus on your breathing, go outside and really practice some mindfulness.

[00:06:51] And then, when you're a little bit calmer, look at that to do list and really highlight what needs to be done now. Because some of those things on your list may be really nice to do, but they may not need to be done straight away. So really break up that list, make it manageable, just give yourself a few things to do, don't get overwhelmed.

[00:07:21] Because not only does this help manage your energy levels, and we need to make sure that you do have energy to enjoy this period, but it also reduces the stress. you're experiencing and that anxiety. So dealing with the stress of this period, remember stay in the moment and focus on what has to be done now, the essential tasks.

[00:07:49] But then what you can also do is when you're going to sleep, when your mind's racing about all the things you have to do and the stress of not. Getting that done or feeling exhausted, start thinking more about how this is going to be a great time, how fantastic it will be to catch up with friends and family, how the energy around you, the festivities, that can be positive.

[00:08:24] So instead of focusing on all the negative, During this month, start visualising it as being a really beautiful period of time.

[00:08:40] Okay, so if we do some of those things about staying in the present, trying to stop our mind from racing ahead, to really focus on what needs to be done now, and what Things can really be left till later. They're nice to have, but not essential. And if we start really visualising a calm run into the end of the year and over this Christmas period or holiday season or however you refer to it, at times, Frustration will kick in.

[00:09:17] I 100 percent get it. Living with MS means that there's certain things during this time I can't do. And it can be frustrating. Everything takes so much thought and planning. Even, yeah, you look at people walking down the street, going in and out of shops, and you think, gosh, I can't do that. It's just a bit difficult to do.

[00:09:43] Um, and you look at people even, I know, Having a few drinks and I don't drink alcohol and that's a choice for my health and I'm 100 percent fine with that. But sometimes you think, oh, that could be good just to have a relaxing drink with friends. Then you can start feeling a bit frustrated when you think about the year you've had.

[00:10:05] and some of the challenges you've been through, and you think, yeah, that's difficult sometimes, and it all comes to your mind at the end of the year, as you do look back as to the year that was. So whatever makes you frustrated, that's going to happen. That frustration is all Always there, but we need to somehow try and shift that focus because if you want to enjoy this period of time, of course acknowledge that frustration, acknowledge it's not fair, that's fine to do, but then we make a choice.

[00:10:50] Do we want to stay in that energy or do we want to move beyond that and enjoy ourselves? And one way we can do this to really help us shift that energy is let it all out. You know, write down everything that annoys you about having your illness and the impact that has on this time of year. Everything that's annoyed you over the last 12 months.

[00:11:17] Write it down, let it out. But then, shifting your focus is so important, and gratitude enables you to do that, and focusing on what really matters in your life helps you to do that. So whether you write down what you're grateful During this time, or what matters to you over the next few weeks. What matters?

[00:11:44] Is it catching up with friends? Is it spending some really good quality time with family members? Is it nurturing yourself? Making sure that you, your health doesn't suffer during this time and you actually take some time to look after yourself so you can enjoy the period. So if you're feeling frustrated, as I always say, feel those emotions but shift that energy or else you'll be miserable and burnt out by the end of the year and you'll feel like you're missing out and all that energy and focus is on your illness.

[00:12:25] So start focusing on what you're, what matters to you during this time and what you're grateful for. And when you wake up, set the tone for the day. Write down, think about what really matters during this period and have that front of mind because That will help you to let go of some of the other things that you don't really need to do, or let go of some of the frustration that's starting to take over.

[00:13:00] So yeah, deal with the frustration by really shifting the focus and bringing your attention to what matters to you. Then, what I want to talk about is, if we are going to enjoy this time, If we've moved through the stress, if we're staying very present, very grounded, if we're shifting our focus from what annoys us, what frustrates us about our illness during this time, to what truly matters, what we're grateful for, the next thing we need to do is be flexible.

[00:13:46] We don't have to stay at home, not being part of all the festive energy around us, but if we're going to do that, we need to be flexible. And one way we can do this is Set some goals for each week. What friends do you want to catch up with? Presents do you need to buy? What arrangements do you need to make for Christmas Day?

[00:14:21] If, if you celebrate Christmas Day. So have your goals, but then be flexible as to how you achieve these. And sometimes being flexible can be difficult because you have your heart set on doing things a certain way, but it's so important that if you're going to find some joy during this period, that doing things differently doesn't mean that your illness is one, it just means that we live with these conditions, we still want to do things, but But we have to remember, overall, what our goal is, what we want to achieve during this period, and if that's connection, then do that differently.

[00:15:12] Be flexible. So, I'll give you my example. Christmas Day, because we celebrate Christmas Day. We are living in a caravan, so having a big get together is not going to happen. We're so excited though that we're at Daisy Hill, and this is the first Christmas we'll be here, but we've booked in a restaurant. My mum and dad are coming up.

[00:15:38] We're going to a restaurant and enjoying that. So if we do things differently to ensure that we don't get to run down during this period, that we still connect, we still catch up with loved ones, then that's going to be a win for all of us.

[00:16:03] Okay, so Another episode, a bit of a shorter one, I guess, but I just wanted to connect with you during this time to give you some of these tips, because this end of year period can be really stressful. We do not want your health to suffer during this period. So just try and implement some of those things I've talked about, whether it's staying very grounded, if you're In terms of when you're feeling that overwhelm, when you're looking at your diary, when you're thinking, Oh my goodness, how I'm going to get everything done.

[00:16:39] Stay in the present, stay in the moment, work out what you need to do right now, let go of some of the other stuff, and just start visualising when you go to bed having a really stress free, enjoyable, festive season. Then, if you're feeling the frustration, that's okay. Acknowledge it. Let it all out. Write down what's really annoying you about the impact, I guess, your illness is having on your festive season, but then shift that focus.

[00:17:16] Really focus. Work out what truly matters to you during these next few weeks and have your focus on that as opposed to what is annoying you. Then thirdly, let's embrace this season. Let's have an amazing next few weeks. But to do that, you need to be flexible. We can't do everything. Our health may suffer if we do, so work out what you want to do and how you can still do that with a bit of flexibility.

[00:17:56] Okay, so thank you for listening to another episode. I'm loving this. I can't believe that in January is when all of this began. So we're getting up to nearly a year full of episodes, which is amazing. As I mentioned in the intro, Lisa was on the podcast in episode 41. Have a listen to that if you're interested into what type of things I was doing during this retreat.

[00:18:28] because I am feeling very zen and I'm really hoping now living in my surroundings at Daisy Hill that that retreat bubble will continue over the next few weeks. I'll also be implementing some of the things I talked about on today's episode. So listen to episode 41 with Lisa. Also, if you haven't already, visit my website Hurdle2Hope.

[00:18:58] com with a number two. So Hurdle2Hope. com forward slash transform. The actual presentation or talk I gave at the MindBodySpirit Festival is now available for you to access and watch now. You'll see a bit of a pattern as to what I've shared in today's episode. These are the three steps to healing and instigating a healing mindset.

[00:19:28] So Access that workshop or presentation. That will help you over the next few weeks. I also have a workbook you can access. So go to that link, download it, and I know it will help. Have an amazing week. Enjoy these festivities. Look after yourself and I can't wait to chat next week.