The Quiet Before the Holidays: Using November to Pause and Reset

The rush of the holidays often feels like it begins the moment Halloween ends, perhaps even earlier. Stores are stocked with decorations, gift guides start circulating, and social calendars quickly fill up. But November provides us with the potential of something rare, a natural pause before December’s whirlwind. It’s a month that invites us to catch our breath, reflect, and prepare ourselves emotionally for what’s ahead.

Many of us overlook this window because we’re already mentally sprinting toward the holiday season. Yet pausing in November can be one of the most powerful ways to preserve our energy, nurture our mental health, and approach the end of the year with more peace.

Why the Pause Matters
Pausing doesn’t mean doing nothing. It means intentionally slowing down to notice where you are. The weeks leading up to the holidays can stir up mixed emotions—anticipation, joy, stress, and even grief. If we barrel into the season without checking in with ourselves, we risk being swept up in expectations instead of moving through it with intention and awareness.

Ways to Reset in November

  • Reflect on the year so far. Ask yourself: What have I learned? What do I want to carry forward, and what can I leave behind?
  • Simplify your commitments. Look ahead at your calendar. Is there something you can decline or postpone so you have more space later?
  • Check in with your body. Rest doesn’t only mean sleep—it can mean a walk outside, a warm bath, or setting aside screens for an evening.
  • Ground yourself in rituals. Brew tea, journal at sunset, or light a candle. These small moments remind your nervous system to settle.

Embracing the Stillness
 In nature, November marks transition. Trees shed leaves, animals prepare for winter, and the air shifts. We, too, can use this time to gently release what no longer serves us. Rather than seeing November as an in-between month, it can become a season of intentional stillness—a chance to reset before the busyness arrives.

Taking time to pause now doesn’t just benefit you. It shapes how you show up for your loved ones during the holidays—with more presence, patience, and compassion. The quiet before the holidays is not wasted time. It’s the foundation for moving into the season grounded, grateful, and ready.

Wisdom To Carry with You

  • As the holidays approach it’s important to take time to pause, as it is a helpful way for us to preserve our energy.
  • Pausing allows us to slow down to notice where you are.
  • You can slow down and rest in November by
  • We can make November a month of intentional stillness, providing us an opportunity to reflect on what served us well this year and what we need to let go of.

I’m Jennifer Bailey, LCSW & RDT. I’m trying to offer a few words of wisdom in a complex world.  Make sure you like it and share it with others and when you subscribe you will get notified when new posts are available! Life is hard and I am here to help. To learn more about the services I offer you can go to BCS-therapeutic services.

Follow me on Social Media:

Leave a comment