The Christmas connection

Christmas isn't just about presents under the tree. It's about presence slowing down, reaching out and rediscovering people and pastimes that bring joy. Here's how to put connection back at the heart of the holidays.

- WORDS by ASHLEIGH AUSTEN

Unlike the Hollywood movies that promise perfect families and endless cheer, December can be a mixed bag for many of us. Between the shopping lists, our social calendars and year-end deadlines, most of us arrive at the holidays feeling frazzled, not festive.

Yet beneath the tinsel and to-do lists, the season often stirs something deeper. The fairy lights go up, workplaces wind down, and suddenly there's space to reflect, to remember, to reach out.

"Life is so fast-paced these days, and many adults are so caught up in the busyness of life that we neglect - through no fault of our own - to keep in contact with people we know and love," says psychologist and author Dr Marny Lishman. "By the time we get to Christmas, we start slowing down as the festivities ramp up and begin reflecting on the year gone by."

But connection isn’t only outward. December can be taxing - emotionally and physically — so it’s also a good time to reconnect with ourselves.

"The festive season can bring joy and connection, but it's also a time of sensory and emotional overload," explains psychologist and author Dr Rebecca Ray. "Balancing social time with solitude gives our nervous systems a chance to reset."

Whether your Christmas is bustling with family or more low-key, there are countless ways to bring connection back to the heart of the holidays.

Rekindle old friendships

"The traditions of Christmas can lead us to be somewhat nostalgic of Christmases gone by and who we saw each year," says Dr Lishman. "Many of us realise in all the festivities that there are people we haven't caught up with that it would be nice to reconnect with, and Christmas is a great excuse to do so."