Photograph by SecretCanvas for Adobe Stock
Delegate the Holiday Event
The holiday season offers a yearly paradox: We’re told to slow down and savor, yet our calendars fill quickly with events for work, family and friends. In order to survive it all, examine your stressors, influence what you can, and help your body reduce its response so you actually can enjoy yourself.
Stressor vs. stress
A stressor is the thing: a compressed timeline, a budget surprise, an aunt’s pointed questions. Stress is your body’s response: a racing heart, tight shoulders, shallow breaths. You won’t be able to change every stressor (hello, December deliverables), but you can reduce your response. A simple shift, managing what’s inside while you navigate what’s outside, is the foundation of sustainable self-care. That’s how you protect your energy, your team’s capacity, and the quality of the experiences you deliver this season.
Reduce the stress cycle
Your autonomic nervous system flips between two modes: sympathetic (“fight or flight”) — great for on-site triage, not great to live in — and parasympathetic (“rest and digest”), where recovery, connection and good decisions happen.
Holiday overload can put us into constant fight or flight. The fix is to return to your baseline. You don’t always need an hour, you just need repeatable microrituals like these that you can do in a green room, a hotel hallway or an Uber.
Move (2–10 minutes): What’s available now? Walk a path around the hotel, dance to one song or try a 60-second full-body tense-and-release, where you individually squeeze each muscle for a slow count of 10, then release. It’s surprisingly effective when time (or space) is tight.
3-Part Breath (90 seconds): Inhale through the nose into the belly, then ribs, then chest. Exhale out (nose or mouth) chest, ribs, belly. Four rounds lower your heart rate and ground your attention. Teach it to your team and use it before walk-throughs or client calls.
Redefine balance
Perfect balance is a myth, especially during the holidays. Aim for seasonal balance: Lean into what matters most and let the rest soften. Use a quick “circle of life” check: List the areas of your life that are important to you and rate from 1 to 10 your current level of fulfillment for each. Celebrate the high numbers. If there’s a low number that could have the greatest impact this season, focus there and let the rest go.
Our favorite right now: Pay attention to creativity to get a rest from the chaos while still feeling productive (because let’s be real, it’s multitasking season). Search “creative gift wrapping,” make some holiday decorations, or bake cookies. Do a creative exercise you enjoy and turn off your phone while you do it.
Holiday wellness tips for your events
Small design choices can de-stress busy programs.
Build quiet corners: Add comfy seating and soft lighting, plus a hydration station near session rooms.
Break for breath and move moments: Open general sessions with a 60-second breath cue or short dance break. Add a five-minute stretch between segments.
CSR for all: Hands-on wellness activities to make giveaways like aromatherapy rollers or bath salts double as mindful moments that guests can recreate at home.
Ashley Brooke James is cofounder of Triluna, a retreat-planning firm that also offers wellness enhancements for events. Meeting Well is sponsored by Caesars Meetings & Events.