Riding the Holiday Chaos

The holiday season arrives like an unexpected swell.

One moment the ocean is manageable, predictable.

The next, the horizon stacks up commitments, expectations, travel plans, deadlines, family dynamics, financial pressure, all rising at once.

The water gets crowded.

The current pulls harder.

And suddenly, even experienced surfers feel a little off balance.

This time of year can feel less like a mellow glide and more like trying to hold position in a churning lineup.

But just like in the water, chaos doesn’t mean something is wrong.

It means conditions have changed and we’re being asked to adjust how we move, breathe, and respond.

Every surfer knows that crowded conditions demand a different approach.

You don’t paddle recklessly.

You don’t fight every wave.

You become more aware of others, of yourself, of timing.

You slow your reactions and sharpen your presence.

Holiday chaos works the same way.

The problem isn’t the noise, it’s how quickly we let it pull us out of ourselves.

We rush.

We multitask.

We forget to breathe.

We chase the next thing without finishing the one we’re in.

And just like surfing in a packed lineup, stress builds when we forget one simple truth:

You don’t have to ride every wave.

In the ocean, currents aren’t personal.

They don’t mean you’re weak or unskilled.

They just exist and fighting them blindly only wastes energy.

Holiday stress is a current.

Trying to power straight through it ignoring exhaustion, skipping meals, overcommitting, often leaves us more drained than grounded.

The skill isn’t brute force.

It’s awareness.

Strong surfers know when to paddle, when to angle, and when to float.

Strong humans do the same.

When conditions get chaotic in the water, experienced surfers check in.

They look at the horizon.

They assess their position.

They breathe.

During the holidays, we can do the same by asking better questions.

Not questions that demand immediate answers, but ones that slow us down enough to regain perspective.

Here are a few to keep in your mental wetsuit pocket:

1. “Is this wave actually mine to take?”
Not every obligation is yours. Not every expectation needs to be met. This question creates space to choose, rather than react.

2. “What happens if I don’t rush this?”
Rushing often feels necessary, but rarely is. Slowing down doesn’t mean falling behind; it often means staying upright.

3. “Am I paddling from fear or presence?”
Fear paddling is frantic. Presence paddling is intentional. The difference changes everything.

4. “What does my body need right now?”
Surfing teaches us to listen, to fatigue, tension, breath. The same applies on land. Hunger, tight shoulders, shallow breathing are signals, not inconveniences.

5. “Can I let this wave pass and trust another will come?”
This question is about trust in time, in yourself, in life’s rhythm. The ocean always brings more waves.

You don’t need to answer all of these at once. Even one can slow the internal churn enough to reset.

Sometimes in heavy conditions, the smartest move is to stop paddling.

Floating isn’t quitting.

It’s conserving energy.

It’s allowing the water to move beneath you while you regain clarity.

During the holidays, floating might look like:

Stillness is not unproductive. It’s how balance is restored.

When stress peaks, the breath becomes shallow and fast, like panic paddling. This practice helps reset your nervous system, bringing you back into rhythm.

When to use it:
During moments of overwhelm, before gatherings, or after a long day.

How to practice:

With each exhale, imagine the whitewater passing beneath you while you remain afloat. You don’t need to control the ocean, only your breath.

Surfing reminds us that timing matters more than force.

You can’t muscle your way into a good wave.

You wait.

You watch.

You feel.

And when the moment is right, you move with commitment, not panic.

The holidays often encourage the opposite: faster, louder, more.

But the ocean has never rewarded hurry.

It rewards attention.

Presence is the real gift. To yourself. To others.

A good surf session isn’t measured by wave count alone.

Sometimes it’s the one clean ride.

Sometimes it’s the calm paddle.

Sometimes it’s knowing when to head in early.

What if a successful holiday season looked like:

That’s not falling behind. That’s riding with skill.

Out past the chaos, the ocean settles.

The energy spreads out.

Breathing becomes easier.

That place exists within you, too, even in the busiest season of the year.

You don’t have to escape the holidays.

You just have to meet them like a seasoned surfer: grounded, aware, and willing to let unnecessary waves pass.

Slow down. Look at the horizon. Breathe.

The next set will come when it’s meant to.

Let’s Go Have a Day! 🏄🏻‍♂️

Kevin Andreosky, Founder

Beyond the Break by Soul Surf Wax