Have you felt the shift yet? Where gratitude begins to fade, and overwhelm slips in almost overnight? Thanksgiving has barely passed, yet Christmas looms ahead with its lists, expectations, emotions, gatherings, and the weight of “making it meaningful.” You may still be carrying the emotional aftermath of family moments—sweet or strained—while staring down an endless list of tasks.
Let me stop you for a moment—
Take a deep breath.
As you pause and breathe, consider how you’ll approach the next few weeks. Some of the ideas I share in posts like 10 Ways to Prepare for the Holiday Struggle and Find Joy can help you pace yourself and find moments of peace amid the busyness.
Let this be your invitation to pause, long enough to feel God’s nearness. The One who never rushes, never pushes, and never demands you outrun your limits. He wants to meet you right here in this moment.
Just be still, quiet your heart, rest your mind and sit in God’s presence.
—Christine Caine
Deborah Haddix captures the season perfectly: “We enter the season with grand hopes of treasuring the season and enjoying the festivity. Then, BAMM!”
That word describes it perfectly, doesn’t it?
What is Soul-Care
When you hear the phrase ‘soul-care,’ what comes to mind? We talk alot about self-care, but soul-care goes deeper. A friend shared the word “soul-care” with me recently, and I instantly felt its significance. It’s more than bubble baths or catching up on rest—it’s tending the deepest parts of us that belong to God.
Soul-care is the sacred work of aligning our hearts with God’s heart. It is spiritual, emotional, physical, and relational renewal—wrapped together and held in God’s loving hands.
“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”
(Psalm 62:1-2 NIV)
Rest is not a religious action item to be added to a list… it’s a delight to be enjoyed.”
Pastor Adam Mabry
Soul-care is receiving that delight.
Why Soul-Care Matters, Especially Now
Have you noticed how the holidays stir both the tender places in our hearts and big expectations in our minds?
Joy and sorrow sit together.
Hope meets heartache.
Delight mingles with dread.
That is why soul-care is essential; it helps us:
- experience God’s hope, joy, and love even in a difficult season
- love others with a full heart rather than an empty one
- make wise, grounded decisions instead of rushed, guilt-driven ones, and
- keep our eyes focused on Jesus, the most indescribable gift of all.
If you feel unsure how to navigate these mixed emotions, my post How Will Love Reign in Your Heart This Christmas and Beyond offers gentle guidance for letting Christ-centered love shape your heart in the midst of holiday chaos.
“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”The best reason to be intentional about our soul care is to focus on the most beautiful gift—JESUS. #selfcare #IntentionalChristmasLove Share on X
(2 Corinthians 9:15 NIV)
Principles of Loving Yourself Well
These principles are the heart of intentional soul-care. And our best role model? Jesus Himself.
Jesus often withdrew from the crowds.
In the middle of the day, He took time to pause.
He rested.
Prayer anchored His soul.
In these moments, He practiced soul-care with His Father, not because He was weak but because He was wise.
Soul care isn’t selfish. It’s obedient.
1. Take Care of Yourself Now
If we’re honest, most of us say, “I’ll take care of myself …”
After the party.
When the shopping is done.
As the crisis settles.
After things lighten up.
When the tasks are completed.
After the house is in order.
However, soul-care can’t wait for the calendar to clear. Jesus meets us in the disarray—right in the swirl of the unexpected.
Even a five-minute pause to meet Jesus in the present moment can shift the climate of your heart.
Just this week, I closed my office door, turned up the music, and danced with God. My perspective instantly shifted from feeling overwhelmed and alone to knowing that God is near and in control.
2. Don’t Stuff Those Emotions
God already knows what you’re feeling; however, something powerful happens when we express them to Him aloud. Be honest with Jesus; He can handle it.
This week, I whispered to God, “I’m overwhelmed. I’m exhausted. I don’t know how to carry all of this.” And I felt the tension release—not because my circumstances changed, but because I stopped carrying them alone.
After you talk to Jesus, turn to a trusted friend. We were never meant to carry our burdens alone.
Share before the load becomes too heavy to bear.
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2 NIV)
3. Strive for Balance
What balance in the middle of the holidays? I know it sounds absurd and impossible. But stay with me.
Picture an “old-fashioned scale” in your mind—one side holds your met needs and desires, and the other side holds everything you do for others or to make the season spectacular. Which side is slamming into the bottom?
Be wise with your yes.
Be courageous with your no.
And release the guilt that creeps in that is not from God.
4. Move Closer to Jesus
True soul-care moves us toward Jesus, not away.
An intentional pause with Him can restore our hope, faith, and love.
Anchor your heart in scripture.
Whisper breath-prayers through the day.
Sit in the quiet with Jesus, even if it’s only for a moment.
True soul-care will align us with the Lord’s presence and strengthen us as we draw near to Him. (tweet)
5. Start Somewhere
Does it seem daunting even to consider an intentional pause for yourself? I understand.
Even as I write this, my December feels heavier than usual. This year brought losses and ongoing challenges I never expected. My stomach still tightens when I look at the days ahead. Perhaps you feel it too—the weight, the weariness, the longing for relief.
However, we don’t have to take a giant leap.
Just start somewhere.
Even a small act will honor God and nurture your soul.
And if you’re facing unexpected changes or traditions that bring more stress than joy, you might find encouragement in How to Make the Most of an Unexpected Christmas—a reminder that God can redeem even the most surprising or difficult holiday circumstances.
Remember, a small start still counts. Do one thing that will nurture your soul. #smallstart #soulcare Share on X10 Simple Ways to Be Intentional About Soul-Care This Holiday Season
We’re all different, so I encourage you to make a list of the things that feed your soul. And then choose at least one to do daily. Here are a few from my list.
- Whisper a breath prayer in the morning and evening.
- Set two alarms in your day to remind you to pause with God.
- Write out a scripture and keep it close by.
- Cross off items from your expectation list—you don’t need to do it all.
- End the day with a gratitude pause.
- Turn up the worship music and dance (yes, dance).
- Commit to a daily Christmas devotional.
- Rest on Sunday
- Use bags instead of wrapping paper—simplify.
- Journal your honest emotions with God.
When Soul-Care Feels Impossible
Are you in a painful or hard season right now?
As I write, my heart feels tender from recent losses and decisions I never wanted to face. I’m walking through caregiving, grief, healing, and a few unknowns that still keep me awake. The holidays feel heavier this year, and I wonder how I’ll navigate it all.
Maybe your holidays feel heavy too.
Maybe your heart aches, or the loneliness stings, or the memories cut deep.
Let’s do it together.
We can trust that God meets us in our weakness, not our strength.
His grace covers the days we cannot do much.
Let’s cling to Jesus in the unexpected.
A Gentle Invitation to Pause
Let’s not let this or any other season get the best of us and miss Jesus. Let’s pause with God and let Him tend to our souls. We can be intentional about soul-care during the holidays and beyond.
A Prayer
Lord Jesus,
You know my heart — how tired I feel, how hopeful I still dare to be. In this season of busyness and expectation, please help me to pause. Draw me close. Teach me to care for my soul as You care for me: tenderly, patiently, deeply.
Remind me that rest isn’t a reward for doing enough—it’s a gift You freely give.
May my pauses with You become lifelines for my heart. Let my love for others overflow from a place of rest, not obligation.
Thank you for being a God who meets me in the quiet, who restores my soul, and who holds me when I feel overwhelmed.
In Your name I pray, Amen.
Reflection Questions
What part of your soul feels weary right now?
Where might a simple pause make the most significant difference?
You are so right, Maree. Staying grounded in God throughout the day can make such a difference in our attitude, and attitude greatly impacts the well-being of our souls. Four items on your list take very little time at all and can be spaced out during the day, helping to recalibrate ourselves at steady intervals. Thank you for your practical suggestions!
Nancy, you’re very welcome! I hope you had a wonderful holiday and took some time to care for yourself. Wishing you a joyful and bright New Year!
Maree
It’s good for me to revisit this post midway through December! Thinking about soul care….:)
May this Christmas season be full of His peace, love, and joy, Maree. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Thank you so much for your lovely comment! My Christmas was truly special. I hope you had a wonderful holiday as well, and that your new year is off to a fantastic start. Wishing you all the best, Maree
Sometimes we just need someone to tell it’s OK to pause, rest, take care of ourselves. 🙂
Yes, Amy, you’re absolutely right. It really helps a lot when someone suggests taking a pause. Thanks, Maree.
Thank you for this encouragement friend. Soul care has felt impossible for me this year. Thank you for the tips too. This blessed me.
I genuinely hope your year is off to a wonderful start and that you’re finding moments to enjoy some restful soul care just for yourself. Wishing you all the best,
Thank you for this, Maree. It’s easy to neglect our souls as we are pulled into the hustle of the season!
Staey, I hope you took good care of your soul during the holidays. Wishing you a Happy New Year! – Maree
I love this post Maree & so poignant at this time of the year.
Blessings sweet friend, Jennifer
Jennifer, I hope you enjoyed a beautiful Christmas and that your New Year is off to a wonderful start. Wishing you all blessings. Warm regards, Maree
What an excellent article with very practical tips ! I love the concept of SOUL care rather than self-care. A bubble bath is fleeting but drawing nearer to God is sustaining !
Thank you so much, Heather. I also really love the idea of soul-care—it resonated with me when I heard it at one of our meetings, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. I hope your holidays gave you some special moments for some soul care too. Wishing you many blessings, Maree
I discovered a Lauren Daigle song that is now part of the constant flow of words in my brain. It’s called something complex like “You’re Gonna Be Okay”. The lines that have become my breath prayer: Lift your eyes to the hills, remember where your help comes from.”
Kristine,
I absolutely love that song by Lauren Daigle. Thank you for leaving a comment so others can enjoy it too. I’m reminding myself right now to lift my eyes to God. Thank you. Maree