Why the Holidays Feel So Hard (Even When You’re Doing “Everything Right”)
A real-talk guide to staying grounded when the food, the stress and the expectations all hit at once.
Okay, real talk for a second.
Can we just admit that the holidays are… a lot? Everyone is posting their perfectly curated Christmas trees (that went up before Thanksgiving, bless their hearts), writing long captions about how “magical” this time of year is. Meanwhile, I’m over here trying to keep my stress levels below “volcanic eruption” while also managing my health, my energy, and the 47 events that somehow ended up on my calendar.
If this is you too, I want you to hear me clearly. You are not the only one who finds this season overwhelming, confusing, or downright chaotic. You’re not dramatic, you’re not behind, and you’re not failing. You’re a human navigating a very human season.
So let’s talk about how to stay grounded when everything around you wants to pull you in twelve different directions.
The All or Nothing Trap (A Classic Holiday Special)
You already know the spiral. We all know the spiral.
“Well, I had one glass of wine at the office party… might as well have another… and another… and honestly just hand me the bottle because today is ruined anyway.”
Or the classic: “I had a piece of pie. All is lost. I must now consume every leftover in this house and rise again on January 1st like a phoenix.”
Here’s the truth:
Your brain is treating one choice like it’s a total disaster when it’s literally just… one choice. A blip. A moment.
It’s the same logic as saying, “I got one flat tire, so I might as well slash the other three.”
When you say it out loud, it’s ridiculous. And yet here we are, acting like one cookie is the end of civilization.
Let’s Redefine Balance (Because Instagram Lied)
Here’s the secret I wish someone had told me years ago. Balance isn’t perfect. It isn’t rigid. It isn’t forcing yourself into a routine that makes you miserable.
Real balance — especially during the holidays — looks more like this:
It’s having the cookie and going for a walk the next morning because movement feels good.
It’s eating your aunt’s legendary mac and cheese and grabbing a vegetable at some point later because your body appreciates both.
It’s skipping the gym because you’re tired and not turning that into a full-blown identity crisis.
Balance is “and,” not “or.”
You don’t have to choose between enjoying the season and taking care of yourself. Those two things can absolutely exist in the same sentence, same day, same life.
Three Things You Can Actually Do Right Now
Let’s get practical. No perfection, no pressure.
1. Break Up With the “Start Over Monday” Mentality
Every meal is a reset. Not Monday. Not the new year. The very next thing you eat.
Had cookies for breakfast? Okay. Lunch is your chance to support your body more.
Missed your workout? Cool. You can move later today or tomorrow.
Your progress is built on your overall pattern, not your occasional detours.
2. Set ONE Realistic Boundary
Not five. Not a whole new lifestyle. One.
Something so doable it almost feels silly.
Drink water before coffee.
Take three deep breaths before your day starts.
A 15-minute movement window a few times a week.
Actually sitting down for meals instead of grazing.
Choose one thing that makes you feel more grounded. One.
3. Use the 80/20 Rule Without Making Yourself Miserable
I’m not going to tell you to skip parties, avoid dessert, or prep every meal like you’re training for a fitness competition. No thank you.
Aim for supportive choices 80 percent of the time.
Then let the other 20 percent be full of joy, connection, and really good food — guilt free.
This is how you stay consistent without becoming obsessive.
Your Holiday Permission Slip
Hear me loud and clear.
You are allowed to enjoy the holidays.
You can have the wine, the cookies, the mashed potatoes.
You can rest. You can set boundaries.
You can say no. You can say yes.
You get to enjoy and you get to care for yourself.
These things are not mutually exclusive.
What you don’t get to do?
Tear yourself apart for being human.
You cannot shame yourself into a version of yourself you love.
You cannot bully yourself into lasting change.
Gentleness works. Consistency works. Self-trust works.
Remember Why You Started
Think back to your year.
The progress you’ve made — whether it’s drinking more water, moving more, sleeping better, or simply being kinder to yourself — doesn’t evaporate because you had a few holiday meals.
You’re not starting over in January.
You’re continuing.
You’re growing.
You’re realigning.
The holidays are a moment in time. They’re not the whole story.
So let’s make a pact, you and me.
We’re choosing grace over guilt.
Presence over perfection.
Care over self-criticism.
Deal?
Now go enjoy your holidays. You’ve got this.
🎄✨
P.S. If you find yourself spiraling, don’t wait for Monday or January. Pause. Breathe. Make one choice that supports you. That’s it. That’s the reset.