When Business Meets Baubles: Managing Stress During Christmas

It's that time of year again. Your inbox is overflowing, year-end targets are looming, and somewhere between the client calls and the spreadsheets, you're supposed to be feeling festive, wrapping presents and peeling sprouts, not to mention entertaining the in-laws.

Instead, you're running on fumes and wondering how everyone else seems to be managing.

Here's the truth: they're probably not. They're just better at hiding it.

As someone who spent 20 years working in healthcare before transitioning to helping entrepreneurs overcome what gets in their way, I've seen firsthand what chronic stress does to our bodies and our businesses.

And Christmas? It's the perfect storm.

The Christmas-Business Collision

The festive season brings a unique cocktail of stressors:

The year-end crunch. Deadlines that can't be moved, targets that need hitting, and a growing sense of panic as working days disappear into the festive void.

Social and family obligations. Events to attend, presents to buy, family dynamics to navigate, all while maintaining your professional presence.

The comparison trap. Everyone else's highlight reel looks immaculate while you're behind on everything and questioning whether you're doing any of it right.

The business anxiety. Will clients book in the new year? Is your pipeline strong enough? Should you be planning better instead of taking time off? Is 2026 the year go you and get a 'proper job?'

Your nervous system doesn't differentiate between "Christmas stress" and "business stress." It just knows you're overwhelmed, and it responds accordingly.

What Actually Happens When You're Stressed

When your stress response kicks in, your body doesn't ask questions. It just acts.

Your sympathetic nervous system activates - your heart rate increases, breathing becomes shallow and rapid, muscles tense, digestion slows. This is your fight-or-flight response, and it's brilliant when you need to react to genuine danger.

The problem? Your nervous system can't tell the difference between a genuine threat and your overflowing inbox. To your body, they're the same.

When you're chronically stressed (hello, December), you're essentially living in a constant state of low-level alert. This impacts everything from your decision-making and creativity to your immune system and sleep quality.

And here's what most people miss: you can't think your way out of a stress response that's happening in your body.

Enter: Belly Breathing

This is where belly breathing becomes your secret weapon. It's not woo-woo, it's not complicated, and it works because of how your nervous system is wired.

When you breathe deeply into your belly (diaphragmatic breathing), you activate your vagus nerve - the main component of your parasympathetic nervous system. This is your rest-and-digest system, the counterbalance to fight-or-flight.

Deep belly breathing quite literally tells your nervous system: "We're safe. We can stand down."

The technique is simple:

1. Find a comfortable position - sitting, standing, or lying down

2. Place one hand on your chest and one on your belly

3. Breathe in slowly through your nose, allowing your belly to expand (your chest should barely move)

4. Breathe out slowly through your mouth or nose, feeling your belly fall

5. Repeat for 2-3 minutes

Here is a short video explaining how to do it.

When to Use It

The beauty of this technique is its versatility. You can use it:

• Before that difficult client conversation

• When you're lying awake at 3am worrying about Q1

• In the middle of a family gathering that's pushing your buttons

• Before opening your laptop in the morning

• When you catch yourself holding your breath at your desk

The key is consistency. One deep breath when you're already at breaking point helps, but regular practice trains your nervous system to regulate more effectively over time.

Beyond the Breath

Belly breathing is a tool, not a cure-all. If you're consistently overwhelmed, struggling with visibility in your business, or finding that stress is genuinely getting in the way of showing up as the entrepreneur you want to be, that's worth looking at more deeply.

Sometimes what feels like stress is actually unprocessed limiting beliefs about your capacity, your worthiness, or your safety in being seen. And sometimes, the most radical thing you can do for your business is address what's actually underneath.

Your Challenge This Week

Set a reminder on your phone for three times a day. When it goes off, stop what you're doing and do two minutes of belly breathing.

That's it.

Notice what shifts. Notice what you become aware of. Notice whether those afternoon energy crashes ease up or whether you're sleeping a bit better.

And if you find yourself thinking "I don't have time for this," that's probably the clearest sign you need it.

Your business needs you regulated, not depleted. This is where it starts.

Margaret Sinclair is the Head Mind Tamer at Mind Tamers®, helping entrepreneurs overcome the limiting beliefs that keep them from showing up confidently in their businesses. If you're ready to stop getting in your own way, book a free consultation at [your website].