A Gentler Way to Move Through the Holidays

Written By Lynne Protain

The holiday season is often spoken about as a time of joy, togetherness, and celebration. And while that can certainly be true, it’s rarely the whole story.

For many women who are thoughtful, capable, and used to holding a lot - especially within the family or at work that no longer feel healthy - this season can bring a clearer sense that something needs to change.

If the holidays feel mixed or complicated, you’re not doing anything wrong. You’re responding honestly to what this season brings up.

Rather than asking ourselves to feel a certain way, it can be more helpful to focus on grounding yourself - finding small ways to stay connect to yourself.

Grounding doesn’t have to mean slowing everything down or opting out. It can be as simple as:

  • Noticing when your body needs a pause

  • Choosing moments of quiet amid the noise

  • Letting go of the idea that the holidays need to look or feel any particular way

For some, this season invites reflection - a sense of noting what has been carried through the year, what has shifted, and what may need tending to as the year comes to a close. There’s no requirement to resolve anything or set intentions for what’s next. Simply noticing can be enough.

If it feels supportive, gentle practices such as mindfulness or loving kindness can offer a steady place to return to - especially when emotions feel layered or the nervous system feels stretched. These practices aren’t about changing your experience, but about meeting yourself with a bit more care and compassion.

As the year winds down, you might consider asking yourself:

  • What helps me feel even slightly at ease right now?

  • Where can I soften expectations - of myself or others?

  • What would it mean to move through this season with kindness rather than pressure?

However this time of year lands for you, you’re allowed to move through it in your own way and at your own pace.

If you’d like to stay connected, I share occasional reflections and gentle practices through my newsletter - offered once a month, with a focus on grounding, self-trust, and navigating life with more steadiness and care.

Wishing you warmth and gentleness as the year comes to a close.

If you’d like to receive monthly reflections and gentle mindfulness offerings, you’re welcome to join my newsletter here: Heal With Lynne newsletter

Lynne Protain

Lynne Protain is a Registered Psychotherapist (RP), Professional Certified Coach (PCC), and Certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher based in Toronto.

She works with emotionally thoughtful, high-functioning women who are navigating burnout, chronic stress, women’s health transitions, and the emotional weight of complex family and relational patterns. Many of the women Lynne supports have spent years over-functioning, caring for others, and staying strong - often at the cost of their own needs, boundaries, and well-being.

Lynne has particular experience supporting women through life transitions such as menopause, chronic illness, workplace strain, and periods of emotional overwhelm, helping them slow down, reconnect with their bodies, and restore a sense of self-trust and inner steadiness.

In addition to her psychotherapy practice, Lynne offers workplace wellness programs, leadership coaching, and mindfulness-based workshops for individuals and organizations across Toronto, Ontario and worldwide.

Her integrative approach blends psychotherapy, mindfulness, somatic awareness, and coaching to support sustainable change - helping clients feel more grounded, resilient, and connected to themselves and their lives.

Learn more at www.lynneprotain.com.

https://www.lynneprotain.com
Next

When Energy Fades: Finding Steadiness as the Season Slows Down