This time of year asks a lot of us. As the days grow shorter and the light fades earlier and earlier, many people notice their energy dip and their mood flatten.
At the same time, calendars swell with obligations: work deadlines before year-end, school events, travel plans, family gatherings, gifts to choose, meals to prepare, and traditions to uphold.
Even when these activities are meaningful, the pressure to make everything “special” or “just right” can quietly pile up, leaving nervous systems on high alert and bodies running on fumes.
When life starts to feel like one long checklist, what often goes missing is a sense of lightness. This is where the third tool in the Peace & Positivity for the Holidays series comes in: playfulness.
When people give themselves permission to be a little more playful—through small moments of silliness, creativity, or joy—it can lower stress, ease the intensity of worry, and create tiny pockets of relief in a crowded day.
Research links a playful outlook with stronger coping skills, more frequent positive emotions, and a greater sense of life satisfaction, even when circumstances are challenging.
So, join me in experimenting with where a little bit of play—small, simple moments of fun or silliness—might slip into your days and bring a lighter feel to this season.
5 Playful Practices to Ease Holiday Stress
- Revisit how you played as a child
- What did “fun” look like for you—dancing, drawing, singing, building, playing sports, being outside?
- Try a grown-up version now: dance in your kitchen, reread a beloved holiday book, decorate cookies “just because,” or revive a favorite tradition like driving around to look at lights.
- Find a play role model
- Kids and pets are basically professional play consultants. Let them remind you how to be in the moment and follow their lead in games, crafts, baking, or silly made-up activities.
- Notice playful adults too—the friend with outrageous holiday socks, the coworker who always has a new game, the relative who loves a goofy tradition—and borrow their ideas.
- Make up funny stories to entertain yourself
- Long lines and traffic jams are perfect places to let your imagination wander. Turn waiting time into story time: imagine who the person in front of you is shopping for or where the driver ahead of you is going.
- If you’re with someone else, build the story together and see how over-the-top you can make it. If you’re solo, text a friend your silliest version (“I’m pretty sure the person in front of me is buying that blender for a secret spy mission”) and share the laugh.
- Take tiny play breaks during the day
- Instead of waiting for a big chunk of free time, look for 5–15 minute pockets where you can do something light and fun. You might film a silly video, dance & sing to a favorite song or doodle on a sticky note between tasks.
- You can also play with what’s around you: snap photos of outlandish shoes or sweaters in stores and send them to a friend or one of your kids with a message like, “Found your holiday outfit!” This is a favorite of mine.
- These small, silly moments can release tension and reset your mood.
- Use games to connect
- When you are with family or friends, suggesting a board game, card game, or simple group game can create shared laughter and ease conversation pressure.
- Depending on your group, that might look like a cozy puzzle night, a round of charades, a casual game of catch, or an online game you can all join from different locations.
This Week’s Challenge
I’d love to hear from you!
How will you embrace playfulness this holiday season?
Leave me a comment and join the conversation!
Need Support?
If you’d like personalized strategies for peace and positivity this holiday season, email me at dianna@collierclan.net for a free consultation.
Dianna Collier 