The holidays can be a magical time, but let’s be honest—they can also feel like a marathon for moms. Between juggling endless to-do lists, striving to create meaningful traditions, and navigating the pressure to make everything perfect, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

In today’s episode, we’re diving into five common symptoms of holiday burnout and sharing practical tools to help you stay grounded, take care of yourself, and truly enjoy the season.

Why the Holidays Can Be Stressful for High-Achieving Moms

The holidays come with their own unique set of challenges.

• Increased Responsibilities: Moms often carry the bulk of the holiday workload, from gift shopping to planning meals and events.
• The Pressure to Be Perfect: High-achieving moms often feel the need to create flawless holiday experiences, which can lead to stress when things don’t go as planned.
• Social Commitments: Endless gatherings and events can leave little time to recharge.
• Financial Stress: Making the holidays special often comes with financial strain, adding another layer of tension.
• Putting Your Needs on Hold: Self-care tends to take a backseat, leaving you without the usual tools to manage stress.

If this resonates, you’re not alone. Holiday stress is real, but recognizing the signs of burnout is the first step toward taking back control and finding balance.

---

5 Symptoms of Holiday Burnout (and How to Regulate)

Let’s break down five signs of holiday burnout and how you can address them with simple, practical strategies.

1. Difficulty Enjoying the Moment

Why It Happens:
When your nervous system is in fight-or-flight mode, it’s hard to settle into the present. Your mind races with tasks and worries, keeping you from fully enjoying the holiday moments.

How to Regulate:
Practice grounding through your senses. Pause and focus on one sensory experience—like the smell of fresh-baked cookies or the warmth of a cup of tea. Take three slow, deep breaths as you fully immerse in that moment.

2. Overwhelming Fatigue

Why It Happens:
Constant demands can leave you feeling drained, even after resting. This happens because your body is stuck in high alert, burning energy even when you’re not actively doing anything.

How to Regulate:
Take short, intentional breaks. Try progressive muscle relaxation—tense and release each muscle group, focusing on the sensations as your body relaxes. For a deeper recharge, explore Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR) meditations.

3. Resentment Toward Responsibilities

Why It Happens:
When you’re handling most of the holiday workload, it’s easy to feel unsupported. Resentment often signals that your plate is too full and boundaries are needed.

How to Regulate:
Delegate one or two tasks or politely decline non-essential commitments. Practice saying, “I’d love to, but I’m stretched thin right now,” to set boundaries with kindness. Creating space in your schedule helps your nervous system recover.

4. Hyper-Focus on Perfection

Why It Happens:
The holidays come with high expectations, and the need to make everything perfect can trigger anxiety or feelings of inadequacy.

How to Regulate:
Adopt a “good enough” mindset. Before tackling a task, remind yourself, “Good enough is good enough.” Focus on one or two meaningful details instead of striving for perfection in every aspect. This shift reduces stress and helps your nervous system settle.

5. Social Overwhelm or Avoidance

Why It Happens:
Packed holiday schedules can make social interactions feel draining. If you’re already at capacity, you may feel anxious in groups or start avoiding gatherings altogether.

How to Regulate:
Set an internal time limit for events and stick to it. While you’re there, practice orienting—look around the room and notice neutral or calming details to anchor yourself in the present moment. This technique helps reduce internal stress without drawing attention.

The holidays don’t have to come at the expense of your well-being. By noticing these signs and practicing small, intentional regulation strategies, you can protect your energy and make space for joy.

Remember, these symptoms are signals from your nervous system, not signs of failure. They’re your body’s way of asking for care and balance.

Take five minutes today to try one of the regulation strategies we shared. Whether it’s grounding in the moment, setting a boundary, or practicing deep breathing, small actions make a big difference.

And if you’re looking for more support, check out the Heal Your Burnout private podcast for even more tools and insights. The holidays can be both manageable and magical—let’s make that happen together.
💌 DOWNLOAD THE NERVOUS SYSTEM RESET GUIDE

MY BURNOUT RECOVERY STORY + $10 OFF HAPPY JUICE

Have a question you’d love Michelle to answer on the podcast? “Ask Michelle a Question.” Click this link, record your message, hit send, and I’ll answer it in a future episode!