As the days grow shorter and the air turns cold, the pace of life seems to speed up. Calendars fill, lists get longer, and there’s always one more thing to do before you can call it a night. The holidays are meant to feel joyful and connected, but for so many of us, they can also bring a sense of quiet exhaustion.
Over the years, I’ve learned that rest isn’t something that magically appears when everything is done. It’s something we choose, something we create space for on purpose. And that’s exactly what this post will help you do. I’ll walk you through simple, grounded ways to carve out time for real rest, even during the busiest season of the year.
Rethinking What You Carry
A big reason many women struggle to feel rested is because we’re carrying too much. The planning, the organizing, the remembering. The invisible weight that holds everything together.
In our house, Matt and I divide holiday tasks. He’s in charge of gifts for his family, and I’m in charge of mine. He wraps his gifts, and I wrap mine. It might sound small, but that balance has made a huge difference.
It’s funny how women are often seen as the “gift-givers.” The ones who remember every stocking, coordinate every event, and think through every detail. But sharing that load doesn’t make the season less special. It actually gives both people more room to enjoy it.
If you find yourself doing it all, start by writing down everything that needs to get done. Circle the things you love, and share or let go of the rest. You don’t have to earn your rest by burning out first.
Finding Rest in Small Moments
Rest doesn’t always have to be a full day off or a weekend away. It can be small, intentional moments that make you feel like yourself again.
Here are a few simple ways to start:
- Put it on the calendar
I know how much heart you pour into making the holidays feel magical for everyone else. You want the people you love to feel held, celebrated, surprised, delighted. It’s a beautiful thing.
But you deserve that same care.
So carve out moments that are just for you. Maybe it’s grabbing drinks with friends after work. Maybe it’s sneaking away to the spa for a massage while your partner handles the to-dos at home. Maybe it’s a quiet hour before bed to read a book, journal, or simply be.
Whatever it looks like for you, protect that time. Let it matter. Let it refill you.
Because you’re allowed to be the one who feels the magic too.
- Step away from screens
When you reach for your phone out of habit, pause for a moment. Notice the impulse.
It’s so easy, especially this time of year, to slip into the scroll and suddenly feel like you’re behind. Behind on decorating. Behind on gifting. Behind on wrapping. Behind on hosting. Behind on keeping up with the magic of an elf on a shelf.
Social media can turn the holidays into a highlight reel of perfection, and before you know it, you’re comparing your real life to someone else’s curated version.
So when that familiar tug to scroll kicks in, try something else instead. Step outside for a few minutes of fresh air. Turn on music that calms your nervous system. Light a candle and stretch your body. Let your shoulders drop. Let your breath deepen. Let yourself arrive back in the room you’re actually in.
3. Simplify your season
You don’t have to do it all.
The pressure seems to intensify during the holidays. More decorating. More baking. More social plans. More expectation. It can feel like everyone else is effortlessly juggling it all, and you’re supposed to keep up.
But you’re human. And being human means having a capacity.
So choose the gatherings and traditions that matter most to you, and give yourself permission to scale back on the rest. Maybe the elf stays put a little more this year. Maybe the cookies are store-bought. Maybe the decorations are simpler, softer, easier.
It’s okay. Truly.
Sometimes the most meaningful presence looks like doing less, not more
and showing up with your whole heart instead of your whole calendar.
A Final Thought
What would it look like to rest, really rest, this season? Maybe it’s turning off your phone for the night. Maybe it’s sharing the holiday responsibilities at home. Or maybe it’s carving out a moment that’s entirely yours.
Whatever it looks like, give yourself permission to slow down. You don’t have to wait for the chaos to pass. You can create calm right where you are.
Want extra support?
If this season has you craving more space, more intention, and more connection to yourself, I created something for you.
My 15-Day Self-Connection Guide is filled with simple daily prompts, gentle moments of care, and small practices that help you feel grounded again. It’s designed to fit into real life, even on your busiest days.
If you’re ready to make rest and self-connection part of your daily rhythm, you can sign up below. I’d love to walk through it with you, you can sign up for free below 👇
