Navigating the Social Energy Battery: A Proactive Tool for Holiday Parties
Work events and friend gatherings are kicking off, often demanding a high social performance. For many, this feels less like a celebration and more like a heavy drain on the nervous system. You may go home feeling depleted, having given away all your energy without making a single genuine connection.
Tending to your energy in all settings might feel daunting at first, but preparation is proactive care.
🧠 Tend to your system to prepare
Use this proactive tool before you attend the party, and again halfway through (check-ins take max 3–5 minutes). This intentional check-in provides structural support for your nervous system.
Find a place you can check in: While in the Uber, or excuse yourself to the washroom, an empty hallway, or even a quiet spot by a window.
Anchor: Place both feet flat on the floor. Note three things you can hear (e.g., music, traffic, conversation hum). Note two things you can feel (e.g., your clothes, the floor under your feet). Note one colour you can see. This simple technique shifts you out of performance anxiety and fully into the present.
Check-In: Ask yourself, “What does my body need right now?” (A glass of water? A deep breath? To leave?) Use this internal feedback to inform your next choice.
This technique ensures you attend the event feeling grounded, not exhausted or anxious.
Bonus check-in: When you get home, take a moment after you close the door to note, “I am home, I can recharge.” Acknowledging that transition point supports your nervous system before you move on to hanging up your coat, etc.
📣 Ready for Action?
This holiday season, let’s prioritize wholeness over depletion. If you are feeling anxious about the holiday season, or if you are ready to learn practices to tend to your inner battery, we can start there.
