How To Protect Your Energy From Draining Family Members During The Holidays

That might mean having a conversation about whatever it is about the other person that's irking you or just recognizing when it's time to take a few minutes to yourself. Here are a few strategies to help you recharge during the holidays so you can approach every social interaction from a calm and levelheaded place:

She also recommends using the days leading up to the holidays to practice self-care: "This is the best 'shield' you could ever devise—get enough rest, eat clean, take your supplements, avoid unnecessary drama, and get quiet time to recharge. This will make you more grounded and resilient during any holiday gathering."

"Family stuff typically inflames imbalances in the lower chakras," says Erica Matluck, a holistic naturopathic doctor. "So a good way to protect yourself before a family gathering is to visualize a grounding cord (I recommend the roots of a tree) extending from the base of the spine all the way down into the center of the earth." From there, Matluck says to imagine a big, bright sphere above your head that contains only your own energy. "Allow your energy to pour out of the sphere and into the crown of your head, through your whole body and drain down the grounding cord. Repeat the visualization after the family gathering as well. This keeps your energy protected and contained in your space and ensures you won’t bring anybody else’s stuff home with you!"

If you have some more time to yourself, taking baths (with some Epsom salts thrown in if you have it) is another restorative way to practice self-care, which Carbaugh says is an "invisible shield" in itself.

If your family is on board, you can burn sage, thought to expel negative energy, at the beginning of your stay. If doing so would raise some eyebrows, you can carry your spiritual arsenal a little closer to the cuff and carry some crystals in your pockets instead. Carbaugh recommends obsidian ("has been used for centuries to protect and cut through bad vibes") and rose quartz ("the unconditional love stone").

According to meditation teacher Sah D'Simone, the holidays are an opportunity to practice self-love, patience, and boundaries. "Take a few moments to notice the quality of your feelings and thoughts when you're around your family. If you observe the quality of your internal landscape as negative and sticky, use the support of your breath to reclaim your power to separate what's yours and what could be their projections," he says. "Avoid judgment—of yourself and others. When you allow yourself to see beauty in others, flaws, and all, you're deconditioning your mind from seeing ugliness. Each time this process takes place, you're attuning with the heart's language."

There you have it! By combining mindful pauses, breathwork, and maybe a grounding talisman or two, you'll float through the holidays with a little more ease.