Staying Steady: Mental Health During the Holidays
The holidays have a way of stirring up more than just peppermint and playlists. For many women, especially the ones who hold families, teams, and whole communities together, the season brings a mix of joy, pressure, nostalgia, and emotional whiplash. It’s a lot. And pretending it’s not doesn’t make it easier.
One helpful thing you can do for yourself is to give yourself a calm reset before the overwhelm hits your nervous system. The holidays don’t magically make your stress disappear. If anything, they expose where your nervous system is already stretched thin. Expectations rise. Boundaries blur. Old family patterns show up in full force. And somewhere between the gift lists and the group texts, you can feel your inner world quietly slipping to the bottom of the priority list. But it doesn’t have to be that way this year.
Start With What’s Real
Instead of forcing yourself into holiday cheer, notice what’s actually present for you. Are you tired? Anxious? Missing someone? Carrying too much? Awareness is not a weakness, it’s an anchor. When you name what’s happening inside you, the intensity drops and your capacity grows.
Shift Your Pace
You don’t need a full day off to reset, even though its not a bad thing if you can rest a full day. Micro-moments matter more. Micro-shifts can give you the quick wins to build momentum and consistency.
Two minutes of intentional breathing in your car before you walk into the house. A quiet pause in the bathroom to unclench your jaw and soften your shoulders. A decision to cross one unnecessary thing off the list without guilt. Little shifts change the whole system.
Anchor Yourself in Something Simple
Pick one grounding practice you can return to when the chaos starts rising. Maybe it’s holding a warm mug with both hands. Maybe it’s repeating a calming mantra like, “I get to show up at my own pace.” Maybe it’s placing your hand over your heart and taking three slow breaths. Your body responds to simple, consistent signals of safety.
Give Yourself Permission to Not Do Everything
Holiday survival often comes down to boundaries. Not the rigid kind but the compassionate kind.
You don’t have to go to every event. You don’t have to host. You don’t have to match the energy of people who drain you. You don’t have to explain yourself to anyone who benefits from you being overwhelmed. Permission is a gift you give yourself.
Let Joy Be Small but Real
Joy this season doesn’t need to be loud or extravagant. It can be a moment of fresh air. A belly laugh with a child. A quiet night with no expectations. A soft song that reminds you to breathe. When you stop chasing the perfect holiday, the honest one feels much more nourishing.