How to avoid burnout this holiday season

The next couple of months can get BUSY. The kind of busy that fills you with mild panic, has you feeling like you’ve forgotten something, and makes you wish you could hide under a rock for a week until it all blows over.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. I mean, really. Eff that noise. You deserve more.

It is possible to have a fulfilling experience during this time of the year without burning out. Here are 4 steps you can take to be in charge of your life throughout the rest of the year…and beyond.

1. Decide what matters. Living on auto-pilot is so common. The struggle is real. If you feel like you’re going through the motions and just reacting to whatever gets thrown your way, you might find yourself wondering, “What am I actually doing? What’s the purpose of all of this?” It’s time to call a time-out and get clear on what matters to you. What are your values? What do you want to experience over the next few months? How do you want to feel? Let your answers to these questions be a lighthouse to guide your way through the landscape of invitations and obligations. For instance, I value quality time with people I love. So, I’ll prioritize those engagements over larger, less personal gatherings. I want to feel energized by my life rather than drained. I know my limits, so I’ll set a max number of commitments each week and stick to it. Once I hit that number, I’m officially all booked up and I’m comfortable saying so.
2. Give yourself permission to want what you want. Do you put other people’s needs ahead of your own? If this is a regular occurrence for you, you may find that you seldom consider what you actually want and instead take things on based on what you think you should be able to handle. You say yes simply because it’s possible for you to do it – not because you actually want to do it. Again, time for a time-out. Remember that you’re allowed to have wants. You can absolutely have a vision for your ideal holiday season (and your life!) and go after it. So before you say yes, pause and ask yourself if you actually want to do it. Invite your desires into the conversation and see where it leads. (Hint: you’ll get more of what you want and less of what you don’t want.)
3. Negotiate your terms. We know that women are less likely to negotiate at work. I have a hunch that this applies in the rest of our lives too. I want you to know that you don’t need to agree to everything as it’s presented to you. You can absolutely make a counter-offer that better meets your needs. In this context, that could mean choosing a venue that’s more convenient for you for a family gathering. Would you prefer to host or be a guest? Would you rather have a lunchtime or evening event? Consider what would make it easier or more pleasant for you, and ask for what you want. I use this in my own life, and it’s saved me so much stress. It can take me from dreading an event to feeling neutral about it, or even looking forward to it.
4. Insist on self-care, no matter what. When we get busy, self-care often falls off the priority list. It makes total sense that this would happen, but the unfortunate consequence is that our stress levels rise and we have less capacity to meet challenges. Neglecting self-care compounds our stress levels and makes everything harder. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be complicated or take a huge amount of time. Basic self-care goes a long way. Focusing on getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, and moving your body in some way will go a long way towards keeping you feeling healthy and energized even as your calendar fills up with more social engagements than usual. Take a moment now to come up with some simple self-care priorities to focus on over the next little while. Put it in the calendar. Make them non-negotiable. Your nervous system will thank you!

So tell me, how will you avoid burnout this holiday season? Comment below & let me know your intentions. 💜

If you need some support around facing the stress of the holiday season, I’ve got you. Sweet Relief is a brief & powerful coaching package to empower you to bust through fear and create the holiday season you crave, while teaching you strategic self-care tools so you can always find your way back to your own heart. Even when your mother-in-law is driving you bonkers, or when your uncle keeps pushing his political views on you, or when everyone expects you to play the part you’ve always played, regardless of what it’s costing you. You deserve better. Check out Sweet Relief here.