Hi Reader

The holidays are marketed as “the most wonderful time of the year,” yet for many of us, they’re the most "something else entirely" (e.g., stressful, demanding, and exhausting). We head into the season hopeful and end up wondering how we got overwhelmed so quickly.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. The combination of unrealistic expectations, emotional triggers, and sheer overload can deplete us long before the festivities even begin.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

You can’t control the chaos around you, but you can protect your peace within it. And when you do, you’ll enjoy the season more, move through it with greater energy and intention, and enter the new year without the dreaded “holiday hangover.”

If you want to manage the merriment without losing yourself in the process, consider these simple, compassionate ways to protect your peace:

1. View the season through the 80/20 lens.
​Identify the 20% of activities that bring you 80% of your joy. Let go of the rest, especially the “shoulds” that weren’t even meaningful for you.

2. Simplify giving and receiving.
​Choose meaningful moments over material things. A lunch date, shared experience, or heartfelt note often means more than any wrapped package. But if you do choose to gift a tangible gift, make it easier by limiting gift exchanges (people, budgets).

3. Set and honor boundaries.
​You’re allowed to say no. You’re also encouraged to say “not this year” if you don’t want to give something up for good but you need the space. Boundaries don’t block love; they preserve it.

4. Manage your energy, not just your time.
​It’s not only if you have the time available, it’s if you have the energy for it that matters. Give yourself a chance to breathe and be present. Build in buffer days, rest when needed, and remember that downtime is productive too.

Protecting your peace is about doing less of what drains you and more of what fills you up.

That doesn't mean ignoring what needs to be done. It means being intentional with your choices. Start small, be gentle with yourself, and remember: you can’t control the season, but you can control how you move through it.

I provide more details and examples, as well as extra resources in episode 284 of the Positively Living® Podcast.

>> Listen to the podcast here​
>> Read the blog post here

Wishing you a calm and cozy holiday season filled with what truly matters.

♥

Lisa

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