Slowing Down the Holiday Hurry: How to Prioritize Yourself During the Holidays
The holidays are often a time of joy, celebration, and connection, but the holidays can also provide a whirlwind of responsibilities, expectations, and stress. Between family gatherings, work obligations, and the pressure to be everywhere at once, it’s easy to lose sight of your own well-being. As a career coach, I’ve seen how many high-achieving clients struggle with setting boundaries and prioritizing self-care during this time. But here’s the truth: prioritizing yourself during the holidays is not selfish—it’s absolutely essential.
If you don’t take care of yourself, you risk burnout, resentment, and feeling disconnected from the very joy the holidays are meant to bring. Here are some practical strategies to help you make time for yourself while navigating the holiday season.
1. Create and Set Clear Boundaries
The holidays can often feel like a never-ending list of social obligations. From family dinners to office parties, it can feel like you're constantly saying yes. The first step in prioritizing yourself is recognizing what gatherings and events are important and meaningful for you to attend vs what events you’d rather say no to. Remember, it’s okay to give yourself permission to not attend every event or social outing.
Action Step: Look at your calendar for the month and assess what events are essential and which ones are optional. Craft a thoughtful response to decline any invites you plan to say no to. These responses can be as simple as, “thank you so much for inviting me, however I’m not able to this year.” Make sure whatever you say feels aligned to you and your priorities and gives a clear answer.
2. Schedule Self-Care
During the holidays it's easy to lose track of your personal self-care habits and routines. Plan ahead to carve out time for yourself, whether it’s a quiet morning before the hustle begins or a few hours in the evening after the kids are in bed. Scheduling purposeful downtime isn’t selfish—it’s an investment in your mental and emotional health.
Action Step: Block out at least 15-30 minutes a few times per week to do something that recharges you. Whether it’s taking a walk, reading a book, meditating, or doing a creative hobby, make it a non-negotiable part of your day. Treat it as an important meeting with yourself.
3. Simplify Your To-Do List
The holidays often come with an overwhelming to-do list—decorating the house, shopping for gifts, cooking meals, and so on. It’s easy to fall into the trap of overcommitting to activities that drain your energy. Instead of trying to do everything, simplify and focus on what truly matters to you so you can stay prioritized.
Action Step: Choose three things that are absolutely essential to your holiday experience (e.g., a meaningful gift exchange, attending a key family event, or volunteering for a cause you care about). Delegate or eliminate the rest. Remember, quality over quantity.
4. Manage Expectations
The holidays can quickly become a pressure cooker of high-expectations–whether it’s to make everything perfect, buy the best gifts, or create magical memories for your loved ones. High expectations can lead to disappointment, stress, and burnout. Instead of trying to meet impossible standards, aim for realistic and fulfilling experiences. Also, consider if these expectations are coming from external sources (family, friends, etc) or are internal pressures you’re placing on yourself.
Action Step: Reflect on your priorities and where you desire to expend your energy this holiday season. You may not desire to host the perfect Christmas dinner or an elaborate gift exchange. Focus instead on what you value most— perhaps it’s connection with loved ones, giving back, or simply being present in the moment? Let go of perfection and embrace authenticity.
5. Disconnect with Intention
Between emails, texts, social media, and constant notifications, the holidays can feel like they never stop. It’s essential to carve out time to disconnect from technology to recharge and be present with yourself and those around you.
Action Step: Designate certain hours or days where you are able to disconnect in some capacity. Use technology tools such as “do not disturb” settings or silencing your phone during certain events or times of the day where you want to be present and fully engaged in the moment.
6. Practice Gratitude
Noticing yourself spiraling into stress? Take a moment in your day to practice gratitude for something or someone in your life. Shifting your thought-life from worry and stress to gratitude is a powerful practice that can help you stay plugged in to the present moment and maintain perspective.
Action Step: Take a few minutes to jot down three things you're grateful for. They don’t have to be big—sometimes the small things (wearing your favorite sweater, a phone call with your best friend, or a moment of solitude) are just as impactful as the big things in your life.
7. Ask for Help or Delegate
As a high achiever you may tend to bear the burden of responsibilities and during the holiday’s this tendency may become more apparent. Consider where you’re taking on more responsibility than what you have capacity for this holiday season and identify where you can ask for help or delegate. Asking for support will allow you to conserve your energy for your top priorities during the holidays.
Action Step: Identify one area where you can ask for support or can delegate a task. Maybe it’s having someone take over gift wrapping or choosing to cater your family holiday meal in lieu of cooking for everyone. You don’t have to carry it all yourself.
Final Thoughts: Prioritize Yourself to Enjoy the Season
Don’t let the holiday hurry distract you from the chance to rest, reflect, and reconnect with what brings you joy. To be fully present this holiday season, you need to make yourself a priority. Self-care isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. When you prioritize your well-being, you show up as your best self for your family, your career, and, most importantly, for yourself.
Happy holidays, and here’s to a season of balance and joy!
