❄️ When the Holidays Feel Heavier Than They Look

Most people don’t talk about it, but the holidays have a way of stirring things up.

On the surface, December looks like magic: lights, celebrations, traditions, gatherings…

But underneath, there’s often a quiet ache. It might be a sense of pressure to get everything “right.” It could be a resurfacing of old wounds, or a reminder of what (or who) is missing. Many people feel a deep exhaustion from trying so hard to be “OK.”

The holidays ask us to be joyful…even when our bodies aren’t up for it.

As a coach and integrative health practitioner, I’ve seen this pattern over and over:

The moments when we’re supposed to feel the most “together” are often the moments when our nervous system feels the most overwhelmed.

And this year, more than any other, I’m hearing from people who feel like they’re running on fumes physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

So I want to offer a reframing:

There’s a big difference between being “fine” and being well.

Being fine means you’re functioning. You’re getting by: doing the things, carrying the weight, and showing up (because you always do).

Being well is something else entirely.

Well-being is not just the absence of illness — I’m sure you already know this deeply.

Well-being is what happens when you feel connected to your body, the truth inside you, to others, and to something larger than yourself.

And the holidays tend to amplify where those connections are frayed.

If you feel:

• Unusually tired

• Emotionally raw

• Inflamed or dysregulated

• Disconnected from your body

• Overwhelmed by expectations

• Numb when you think you “should” feel joy

…that doesn’t mean something is wrong with you.
It means something inside you is asking to be heard.

Healing doesn’t happen because the calendar says it should. It happens when you decide to pay attention and care for yourself.

A few gentle invitations for this month:

1. Slow down before your body forces you to.

Rest is not a luxury during December. It’s what will get you through the month without burning out.

2. Let your nervous system lead.

Notice: What situations feel safe? What feels exhausting or draining?

3. Nourish in ways that actually nourish.

Warm meals, hydration, morning light, movement that feels good, time spent with people that make you laugh.

4. Create tiny rituals that ground you.

This could be lighting a candle, a few deep breaths, pausing before walking into a family gathering, a few minutes of nature, or even just a hand on your heart to remind yourself of what you’re grateful for.

5. Let grief and joy coexist.

You don’t have to choose. Allowing yourself to experience the truth of the moment — whatever it is — creates more healing than pretending you’re OK. Authenticity is medicine.

6. Phone a friend.

Allow yourself to open up to someone you trust, someone who will hold space for you without judging you or trying to “fix” you. Being heard is powerfully therapeutic.

7. Let yourself come home to yourself.

Your body knows when you’re out of alignment. It also knows the way back. When you slow down, listen inward, and honor what you truly need, healing stops being something you chase and starts becoming something that naturally unfolds.

When you reconnect to the parts of yourself you’ve been ignoring, your whole physiology shifts. 💡

And if this season feels heavy…you don’t have to walk through it alone.

If you need a place to talk — really talk — I’m here.

I’m not here to diagnose or fix you. I’m not here to sell you anything, either. Just to simply hold space, listen deeply, and help you make sense of what your body and spirit are asking for right now.

Sometimes even a single conversation can bring relief, clarity, or direction.

If you’d like to talk, you can book a free call with me here:
👉 [scheduling link]

No pressure or pitch.
Just connection — the kind we all need more of, especially in December. 🫶