Let’s be honest:
The holidays are magical…
…for about eight minutes.
Then real life kicks down the door.
Suddenly you’re juggling holiday parties, gift lists, last-minute Amazon catastrophes, school concerts, extra clients, “just one more” showing requests, and cooking enough food to feed an army—even though only six people are coming because Aunt Linda is gluten-free, dairy-free, and joy-free.
High-powered women know this drill.
We run things.
We organize things.
We basically hold the entire holiday season together with a Sharpie, a planner, and sheer willpower.
But at what cost?
Every year I watch brilliant, capable women hit December like a flying squirrel on caffeine—hoping if they run fast enough, they won’t notice how drained they are.
Not this year, friend.
This year?
We’re doing it differently.
Here are 10 holiday stress-busters to help you stay sane, stay present, and remember what actually matters.
1. Ask Yourself: What’s Really Important?
Picture this:
You’re standing in Target, staring at 27 wrapping paper designs, having an existential crisis over which one says “I’m festive but also emotionally stable.”
Stop.
Pause.
Ask: Does this matter in the grand scheme of life?
Your family will not remember the wrapping paper.
They will remember whether you were smiling… or spiraling.
Keep the main thing the main thing:
Connection.
Presence.
Peace.
Meaning.
Not whether the napkins match the table runner.
2. What Can I Let Go Of (Without Feeling Like a Quitter)?
Here’s your permission slip:
You don’t have to do it all.
You don’t need to bake eleven pies.
You don’t need to hand-craft that wreath from Pinterest (unless it truly lights you up, in which case, glue on, queen).
You don’t need to say yes to every invitation, every event, every ask.
Pick a few things that actually matter—and let the rest fall away like pine needles on an artificial tree.
3. Does It Have to Be Perfect? Or Could It Just… Be?
Say it with me:
Good enough is beautiful.
Your house does not need to look like the cover of a lifestyle magazine.
Your cookies don’t need to be symmetrical.
Your Christmas photos don’t need to make everyone look like they like each other equally.
Aim for connection—not perfection.
Your soul will thank you.
4. Would You Rather Be Right or Be Happy?
Ah yes… holiday family conversations.
A magical blend of love, nostalgia, unsolicited opinions, and someone bringing up politics even though we said we wouldn’t.
Here’s your mantra:
Connection over correctness.
You don’t have to debate.
You don’t have to prove anything.
You don’t have to win the conversation.
You can simply smile, breathe, and say,
“I hear you.”
(Not the same as “I agree.” Let’s be clear.)
Choose peace over proving.
It’s liberating.
5. Acknowledge Without Agreeing
This is elite emotional intelligence.
Try lines like:
- “I understand why you feel that way.”
- “That’s an interesting perspective.”
- “I get why that matters to you.”
Notice: None of these phrases mean you co-sign the chaos.
Validation isn’t agreement.
It’s a boundary with compassion.
6. Put Love First (Even If Other People Don’t Deserve It Today)
Let’s be real:
Some folks make it easy to love them…
…others test your spiritual growth.
But love is not a holiday accessory you pull out with the decorations.
It’s a lifestyle.
When in doubt, choose compassion.
Choose grace.
Choose love.
It builds more bridges than anything else we try.
7. Remember the Reason for the Season
Different families celebrate in different ways, but the heart of every tradition is the same:
Connection.
Hope.
Gratitude.
Togetherness.
Presence.
Not stuff. Not perfection.
Not sprinting through a to-do list and calling it “joy.”
Take a moment each day to reconnect with what the season means to you.
8. Give the Gift of Connection
You know what people actually want?
Your presence.
Your attention.
Your warmth.
Your kindness.
Your laugh.
Give someone:
- a genuine compliment
- a long overdue thank-you
- an “I appreciate you” text
- a spontaneous hug
- uninterrupted eye contact
These are the gifts people remember long after the decorations are packed away.
9. The Gift of a Break (Yes, You’re Allowed to Sit Down)
You can rest without earning it.
You can say no without guilt.
You can leave the party early.
You can nap, stroll, breathe, do nothing.
Rest is not weakness. Rest is strategy.
And sometimes the MOST spiritual thing you can do is put on fuzzy socks and watch a movie with zero educational value.
10. Practice Presence: The Power of Tiny Kindness
Small acts of kindness have big ripple effects.
- Smile at the cashier
- Say “thank you” like you mean it
- Let someone go ahead in line
- Leave an extra tip
- Compliment a stranger
- Let someone merge (even if they waited until the last second… growth opportunity!)
- Put down your phone and look someone in the eyes
Kindness calms your nervous system. It also turns chaos into connection.
HOLIDAY ACTION PLAN: Try This Today
Pick one:
✔️ Let go of something on your list
✔️ Delegate one holiday task
✔️ Spend 10 minutes breathing, reflecting, or journaling
✔️ Say no to perfection
✔️ Choose happiness over being right
✔️ Offer one small act of kindness
✔️ Sit down and take a real break
Small shifts create big ease.
Want to Start the New Year With Clarity Instead of Exhaustion?
The holidays can blur your vision—literally and emotionally.
If you’re ready to start designing a life that feels meaningful, joyful, and intentional (instead of running the same year on repeat)…
Join me for The “Create a Life You Love” Vision Workshop.
You’ll get a full hour to:
- Reconnect with what matters most
- Identify what you truly want
- Release holiday overwhelm
- Create a blueprint for the life you want in 2026
- Start living by design—not by default
Reserve your spot here:
👉 rosemarygibson.com/the-vision-workshop
Your peace matters.
Your joy matters.
You matter.
Let’s build a beautiful year—on purpose.
