How To Recharge During a Busy Season: 3 Easy Tips for the Holidays
Feeling holiday overwhelm? Discover 3 easy tips to manage stress, stay energized, and enjoy the season with balance and ease.
The holidays are magical, but they often come with a sense of “too much”: too many events, too much food, too many late nights, and way too much on our plates—figuratively and literally. Throw in disrupted routines, family dynamics, and the lingering threat of seasonal colds, and the season of joy can start to feel like the season of stress and survival.
I can certainly relate to this personally—can you?
But here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be this way. Over the years, I’ve learned to focus on small, manageable changes during this season, and it’s helped me step back from the chaos and truly enjoy the holidays without losing myself in the overwhelm. I’m so excited to share my strategies with you.
Why the Holiday Season Feels Overwhelming
The “too much” of the holidays can leave us feeling stretched thin:
Overindulgence: Food, drinks, spending—it’s easy to go overboard.
Disrupted Routines: Visitors, travel, and jam-packed schedules can derail even the best habits.
Emotional Strain: From family dynamics to feelings of guilt or obligation, emotions often run high.
Physical Toll: Exhaustion, stress, and skipping self-care can weaken your immune system and leave you vulnerable to seasonal colds.
When we lose our balance, our energy dips, stress mounts, and the joy of the season can feel just out of reach.
Here are three simple strategies to help you stay grounded and energized:
1. Simplify Your Commitments and Learn To Say ‘No’
Remember—not every holiday invitation deserves a “yes.” Overloading your calendar can drain your energy and make it hard to stay present.
As a recovering people-pleaser, I know how hard it can be to say “no,” but it’s crucial to maintain boundaries, especially around people who drain your energy instead of bringing you joy.
Actionable Tip:
Set boundaries: Limit the number of events you attend or host to preserve your energy.
Use the “Three-Question Filter”:
Before saying yes to any new commitment, ask yourself:Does this align with my current priorities?
Will saying yes bring me joy or drain my energy?
Am I agreeing out of guilt or genuine desire?
If the answer to any of these questions is no, consider politely declining. This will help you pause, reflect, and make intentional decisions about how you spend your time and energy.
Keep it simple and don’t overexplain: “Thank you so much for thinking of me! Unfortunately, I can’t make it this time, but I’d love to catch up soon instead.”
2. Create a Grounding Daily Ritual
When your routine gets disrupted, grounding yourself in small, intentional rituals can help restore balance. These moments of calm create an anchor amidst the chaos.
I swear by my ‘me time’ in the early morning before my family wakes up. What do I do during that time? Usually—nothing! It’s not about ‘doing’ but about ‘being’ with myself. This might look like sitting in silence and watching the dark sky turn indigo and then light blue while letting my mind wander, or lying on the floor and letting my body guide me into gentle, restorative stretches. Sometimes, it’s journaling or simply practicing deep breathing.
Actionable Tips:
In the morning, instead of reaching for your phone or turning on the news, spend 5–10 minutes journaling, or stretching mindfully.
End your day with a calming activity like a warm bath, reading, or deep breathing exercises.
Add warming, grounding practices such as drinking spiced teas (ginger, fennel, or tulsi) or practicing self-massage with sesame oil to stay centered.
A Question For Reflection: “What would your perfect ‘me time’ look like? Could you carve out 5 minutes tomorrow to try it?”
3. Balance Indulgence with Nourishment
Sugar is everywhere in my house from Halloween all the way through New Year’s—sheesh!
Holiday food often leans heavily on sweets and rich treats, which are enjoyable and comforting in the moment—but balance is key. It’s easy to reach for sugary snacks for quick energy during stressful times, but these choices can create energy crashes and amplify cravings.
At one point last December, I caught myself eating leftover Halloween candy while prepping a New Year’s menu. Holiday sugar is truly relentless!
Actionable Tips:
Follow the 80/20 rule: Enjoy treats in moderation while focusing 80% of your meals on whole, nourishing foods that include protein and veggies.
Keep satisfying snacks on hand: Nuts, seeds, or fruit can help curb cravings without overloading on sugar.
Mindset Shift: Before reaching for a holiday treat, ask yourself, “Is this truly a treat, or is it possibly a threat—to my energy, my health, or how I’ll feel about myself later?”
Enjoying the Season, Instead of Just Surviving It
Recharging during the holidays isn’t about perfection—it’s about finding the balance between doing and being. Simplify where you can, ground yourself with small rituals, and approach indulgence with mindfulness. These steps will help you shift from “just getting through” the season to truly enjoying it.
Looking Ahead
If one of your goals is to be more in control of cravings and feel lighter, I have something powerful coming your way:
👉 My 14-DAY GUIDED SUGAR RESET starts on January 18th (giving a boost to some of the steps you may be taking on your own starting on January 1st) .
Use code NEWYEAR for 30% off through January 10th.