Holiday Stress Relief: 10 Quick Mindfulness Practices
The holidays are supposed to be joyful — yet they often bring tension, exhausting family dynamics, and pressure to be everything for everyone.
What if you could navigate difficult conversations, set boundaries without guilt, and find genuine peace amid the chaos?
In this pocket-sized guide, mediator, law professor, and mindfulness teacher Erin Gleason Alvarez (featured in goop, Forbes, Newsweek, and other national media) shares 10 powerful practices to help you reset during the season's most stressful moments. Drawing on her expertise in conflict resolution and mindfulness, Erin offers simple, practical tools for:
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Staying grounded when family gatherings feel overwhelming
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Navigating tricky political conversations at the dinner table
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Managing feelings of loneliness or financial stress during the holidays
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Creating meaningful connection instead of performative perfection
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Finding calm in the chaos, one mindful moment at a time
Whether you're dreading a difficult family member, worried about money, or simply hoping to feel more present this year, these quick resets will help you move through the holidays with greater ease, clarity, and grace.
Take just a few minutes each day to return to yourself — and rediscover the peace that's possible, no matter what's swirling around you.
The first book in The Refocus Collection.
About Erin
I bring a mediator’s calm and a lawyer’s precision to one of the world’s most broken skills — communication. Through mindfulness and negotiation, I show readers how to stay centered, find clarity, and create solutions — even when emotions run high.