I’ve been talking with so many friends lately about how to manage the holiday stress.

The other day I was talking with a friend I haven’t seen in a long time.

We talked about so many things but I can’t help but continue to come back to this one statement she said.

She said she got to a point where she felt like everything on the outside looked great, but the light inside her was slowly going out.

I thought this was the perfect way to describe what’s happening on the inside when we’re experiencing overwhelm, exhaustion, and burnout.

I know many women are experiencing this right now. But when everything on the outside looks great, they can easily mask the reality of what’s happening on the inside and just keep pushing through.

But they aren’t lit up inside. They aren’t feeling deeply. They aren’t fully present. And they aren’t having fun in their lives.

Instead they feel dull. They feel robotic. They feel zombielike.  They’re going through the motions and taking tons of action but they feel hollow inside.

During the holiday season this might look like…

• decorating cookies with your kids while thinking about the mess you’re going to have to clean up after
• eating Thanksgiving dinner with your family and friends and not remembering what the conversation was about because you were so concerned about it being perfect and everyone being happy
• looking at your calendar and noticing that nothing on your calendar lights you up but continuing to show up for everything with a smile anyway

You were made for so much more.

How to Manage Your Holiday Stress

Here are 3 simple ways to be more present and enjoy the holiday season.

Step 1: Do a Brain Dump – Grab a piece of paper and write a list of everything that’s on your mind that you think needs to be done during the holiday season. When you think you’re done, ask yourself what else repeatedly and write every single thing down.

Step 2: Eliminate – Decide intentionally what you want to say no to this year. Cross those things off your list and communicate with whoever you need to communicate with to let them know you will not be doing those things this year.

Step 3: Delegate – Get honest with yourself about what you want help with. Remember, it’s safe to ask for help. Decide what you want help with and who you want to ask for help. Reach out to them now so you can take those things off your list.

Step 4: Schedule the Rest – Whatever’s left on your list is what you’re choosing to do. Decide how long each thing is going to take you and put it on your calendar now. That way you can space things out and do a little bit along the way, making the holidays feel less stressful and overwhelming.

Step 5: Check in With Your Expectations – Decide how you want to feel. Decide intentionally what you’re doing to think about this holiday season. And show up as her. Leave behind the need for perfection. Let go of the comparison. Allow everyone to be human, including you.

Step 6: Practice Gratitude – Each day commit to finding all the things you’re grateful for. The more you can bring yourself back to this, the more your energy will be focused on what you love about each day. And the more you’ll be present and feel the way you want to feel.

Resource (blog post): 7 Simple Steps to Manage Holiday Stress

Imagine What Enjoying This Holiday Season Could Look Like

Imagine decorating cookies with your kids and full belly laughing and dancing to the Christmas music despite the mess.

Imagine hosting Thanksgiving dinner and giving yourself permission to be deeply connected and engaged in the conversation while trusting that everyone else is also enjoying their experience.

Imagine looking at your calendar and noticing white space and free days as well as a few events that you really want to be present for.

It’s time to light that flame inside you once again. It’s time to let go of the perfectionism and the way you think it should be. It’s time to stop comparing yourself and trying to keep up with what other women are doing. It’s time to stop living a shell of a life and start fully living a life you love.

This is available to you when you’re ready to receive it.

Resource (blog post): The Power of Saying No

You can start by saying no to the things you don’t want to do. If you want help with this, I’ve got you. Head below to grab my free guide to saying no without feeling guilty so you can take that first step to intentionally designing a life you love.