The holiday season asks a lot of us. Between family gatherings, social obligations, gift shopping, year-end work deadlines, and the kids’/grandkids’ school activities, it’s easy to feel you’re being pulled in a dozen different directions at once. What if, instead of white-knuckling your way through, you had an anchor—something that kept you grounded no matter what swirled around you?

I’m inviting you to embrace the “steadiness practice”—a simple, sustainable commitment to one consistent practice throughout the holiday season. This isn’t about adding more to your already full plate; it’s about creating a foundation that keeps you centered when everything around you feels chaotic.

The steadiness practice is a commitment to show up for yourself with one specific practice, every single day, for the next eight weeks. It’s not about perfection or duration—it’s about consistency. Whether it’s five minutes or fifty, the power lies in the daily return to the practice to which you’ve committed.

Choosing your practice. The key is selecting something realistic and meaningful to you. This might be a morning meditation before the house wakes up, three rounds of sun salutations to start your day, ten minutes of restorative postures before bed or simply five conscious breaths whenever you feel overwhelmed. The practice itself matters less than your commitment to it.

Consider what you need most right now. Do you crave calm? Choose a breathing practice or meditation. Need energy? A dynamic flow sequence might serve you. Seeking better sleep? Evening restorative postures could be your anchor. The beauty of this challenge is that it’s entirely personal—there’s no right or wrong choice.

Building your steadiness. Start small. It’s far better to commit to five minutes daily and actually do it than to aim for thirty minutes and bail after a week. Mark it in your calendar like any other important appointment. Treat this time as non-negotiable—because your well-being is non-negotiable.

Notice what happens when you miss a day. Rather than abandoning the practice entirely, simply begin again the next day. Steadiness isn’t about never falling; it’s about always returning to center.

The ripple effect. Here’s what often happens: when you create steadiness in one area of your life, it naturally extends to others. That daily five-minute practice becomes a touchstone. When you’re standing in a crowded store or navigating a tense family conversation, you’ll find yourself instinctively returning to that breath, that grounding, that center you’ve been cultivating each morning.

By January, you won’t just have survived another holiday season—you’ll have built a sustainable practice that supports you year-round. You’ll have proven to yourself that even amid chaos, you can create steadiness.

So, what will your practice be? Choose it now, commit to it and watch how consistency transforms not just your holidays, but your relationship with yourself.

Jennifer Yockey is an E-RYT500 yoga instructor, an IAPRC professional life and recovery coach and owner of GATHER Yoga + Wellness. She can be reached at (760) 219.7953 or for more information, visit www.gatherlaquinta.com.