Hey friends!
This post is going live a week before Christmas…
but if you’re reading this days later, that makes complete sense.
Why?
Because you’ve been doing all the things.
You’ve been carrying the holiday on your back and making magic happen — not just for your kids, but for parents, partners, friends, coworkers, teachers… everyone. You’re coordinating schedules, remembering details, managing emotions, adjusting plans, and trying to hold it all together.
I see it.
I feel it.
And you are tired.
Not just physically — your brain is tired.
The Invisible Mental Load of December
December hits differently.
Your brain is juggling:
- Who needs gifts (and what kind)
- School events, parties, spirit days, performances
- Work deadlines before year-end
- Family schedules, travel, food, traditions
- Emotional expectations — yours and everyone else’s
On top of that, December is sensory overload (noise, lights, crowds), schedule overload, and often emotionally charged. Holidays bring joy, yes — but also grief, pressure, comparison, and old memories that sneak up on us.
A tired brain isn’t a failure.
It’s a sign you’ve been carrying a lot.
And when your brain is overloaded, no productivity hack is going to fix that first. What helps is grounding.
3 Gentle Ways to Ground & Reset When the Holidays Feel Like Too Much 🎄
These are not “do more” tips.
They’re “come back to yourself” moments.
1️⃣ Pause your body first
Before fixing the to-do list, calm your nervous system.
Put both feet on the floor.
Take one slow breath in through your nose…
and a long breath out through your mouth.
Even one breath matters. Your body needs safety before your brain can sort anything out.
2️⃣ Lower the bar — on purpose
Pick one thing that actually matters today.
Let the rest be “good enough.”
Connection beats perfection. Every time.
3️⃣ Do one grounding thing for two minutes
Not an hour. Not a whole routine.
Two minutes.
- Wash your hands in warm water
- Step outside
- Stretch
- Sip a hot drink without multitasking
Small resets count more than you think.
If you need to hear this:
You’re not failing — you’re overloaded.
And you’re allowed to slow down. 💛
A Real-Life Reminder (Lowering the Bar Still Works)
Let me share something personal.
The last couple of months have been… a lot.
My daughter has been sick basically since before Thanksgiving. Then last week, she got strep. We missed her first holiday parade on the Girl Scout fload. A special light festival. And then a snowstorm canceled our Santa visit.
And this isn’t just any Santa.
This is THE Santa. The one we’ve seen every year. Miracle-on-34th-Street-level perfect. I was bummed. Really bummed. Other things went wonky too, and I felt it.
But I made a decision:
We’re still seeing Santa.
I found another one. Lowered the bar. Prepared myself mentally for a questionable beard.
And you know what?
It was great.
It wasn’t our Santa — but it was at a train festival. It was fun. It was special. Christmas magic still happened. Happy kid. Memory made.
Bar lowered. Magic achieved.
Bonus: Lightening the Load Beyond December
One way to reduce this invisible mental load — not just now, but all year — is a family plan.
Seeing who does what.
Sharing age-appropriate responsibilities.
Letting routines carry some of the weight instead of your brain doing it all.
When everyone participates, the load gets lighter.
And lighter load = happier family.
Before You Go…
If this post resonated with you, you’re not alone. And you don’t need more pressure, more rules, or more expectations.
If you want more grounding, real-life support — the kind that helps you breathe easier and feel less behind — I’d love for you to join my email newsletter.
That’s where I share encouragement, tools, and ideas designed to support real humans, not perfect ones.
You’ve done enough.
You are enough.
And it’s okay to rest.
💛
Nicole
Stay tuned for next week’s POP Talk!
This post may include affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you make a purchase—at no extra cost to you. Regardless, I only share products and resources I genuinely love or find helpful!
