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Unwrap Calm: A 5-Minute Guided Meditation for Holiday Stress Relief
Hello, and welcome back to Daily Mindfulness. I'm Julia Cartwright, and I'm so glad you're here today. You know, we're just a few days away from the holidays, and I'm willing to bet that right now, you might be feeling that particular kind of stress that comes with all the plans, the expectations, and that little voice saying there's still so much to do. Today, we're going to spend just five minutes together calming that anxious energy so you can actually enjoy the season ahead. So let's begin.
Find yourself in a comfortable seat, somewhere you won't be interrupted for the next few minutes. You might be at your desk, on your couch, or even in your car on a lunch break. Wherever you are is exactly where you need to be. Now, let your shoulders drop away from your ears. You don't realize how much tension lives up there until you let it go, do you?
Let's start by taking three deep breaths together. Breathe in through your nose for a count of four, hold it for just a moment, and then exhale slowly through your mouth. Let's do that again. In through the nose, and out through the mouth. One more time. Wonderful. Already, your nervous system is settling down.
Now, I want you to imagine your stress like snow falling around you. You're not trying to stop the snow, and you're not trying to catch it. You're simply noticing it. As thoughts come up, as worries bubble to the surface, imagine them like snowflakes drifting past. They land gently, and then they melt away. Your job is just to watch. You're the quiet observer here, not the one scrambling to fix everything.
Take a slow breath in, and as you exhale, feel yourself becoming heavier, more grounded. Another breath in, and out. With each exhale, imagine roots growing from the base of your spine, anchoring you deeply into the earth. You're stable. You're safe. You're held. The snow keeps falling, your thoughts keep coming, but underneath it all, you remain solid and still.
Three more breaths now. Long and easy. You're doing beautifully.
Before we finish, here's something I want you to carry with you today. Whenever you feel the stress creeping back up, just pause for a moment and remember this feeling right here, this grounded sense of calm. Take one intentional breath and remind yourself that you're like that snow-watcher again, noticing without needing to control everything.
Thank you so much for joining me on Daily Mindfulness, Five-Minute Meditations for Stress Relief. If this practice brought you even a little bit of peace today, please subscribe so we can meet again tomorrow. You deserve these moments of calm. Take care.
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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
Published on 8 hours ago