The holidays bring magic, connection, and… let’s be honest — a whole lot of pressure.
There’s the shopping, the cooking, the planning, the attending, the remembering… and somewhere in between all of that, you’re also supposed to rest, be joyful, stay present, and keep everyone else afloat.

No wonder so many of us hit December already exhausted.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed lately, you’re not alone. In fact, here are a few signs you might be carrying more than you realize:

1. You feel guilty resting.

You finally sit down… and instantly think of the 27 other things you “should” be doing.
You replay the to-do list in your head, or tell yourself you haven’t “earned” a break yet.
Rest feels suspicious. Lazy. Wrong.
Even when your body is begging you to stop, your mind won’t get on board.

3. Your mind is always “on.”

You’re physically present, but mentally… planning dinner, thinking about gifts, prepping tomorrow, remembering deadlines, replaying conversations, and tracking what you’ve forgotten.
Your brain refuses to shut off, even when you really want to relax.
It’s like you’re running on high alert 24/7.

4. You keep putting your own needs last.

Everyone else gets attention. Everyone else gets care.
You get whatever scraps of energy are left — if any.
You push through headaches, ignore hunger, dismiss your feelings, and tell yourself you’ll “deal with it later.”
But later never comes.

Tools to Help You Slow Down This Season

Here are some gentle tools you can use right now:

2. The 1-Minute Reset

Take one minute to step away from what you’re doing.
Look around the room.
Unclench your jaw.
Soften your shoulders.
Come back into your body.

You can also turn this into a quick grounding practice using the 5 Senses Technique:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you can hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste or imagine tasting

This brings your mind out of “survival mode” and into the present moment.

3. The Small Ask

Ask yourself: “What do I need right now?”

And then — give yourself permission to honor whatever comes up.

Keep it simple:

• A glass of water
• Five minutes of quiet
• Stepping outside for fresh air
• Listening to a song that soothes you
• Putting your phone down
• Saying, “I’ll do that later”
• Sitting instead of standing
• Choosing an easier dinner
• Asking someone else to help

Small needs matter. Small needs add up.
And meeting them consistently helps your nervous system feel supported again.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not doing anything wrong. You’re just human.

And honestly? You deserve support just as much as the people you show up for.

If this season is feeling heavy, or if you want help creating healthier rhythms for the coming year, you don’t have to do it alone.

✨ Therapy can help you unpack the pressure and learn to be kinder to yourself.
✨ Coaching can give you tools to build confidence, clarity, and balance.
✨ Or join me on a mindfulness journey — small practices that lead to big shifts.

Whenever you’re ready, I’m here to walk with you.

With hope for the future,
Etsuko J