If you’re reading this today (Thursday) and you live in the States, there’s a good chance you slipped away for a minute to regroup.


(And if you’re not in the States, then this moment is probably going to find you at some point during the month of December.)

Maybe you’re hiding in the bathroom or slipping outside for a breath of fresh air.
Maybe you’re sitting in a quiet corner escaping the noise.

This seems to be the time of year where we all need more space and yet, we somehow have less of it.


The expectations. The traditions. The obligations we inherited or created. The school events, if you have kids. The family dynamics. The pressure to enjoy every moment or make it meaningful. Even if you love the season, it’s still a lot for one body to hold.
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Before the season sweeps you away, here’s one small thing that makes a big difference:

Get clear on how you want to feel.
Not the “I should feel…” version. The real one.

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For some, it will be about connection this year. The full table. The noise. The familiar faces and the ones you haven’t seen in a while.
For others, maybe you want quiet. A book. A blanket. A little distance from everything.
Maybe you want to skip the whole season and make it feel like any other time of year.
Maybe you’re doing your best just to get through it.

Wherever you’re at, getting clear on your intention for this time of year is going to give you something to anchor into and help you make decisions and choices that support how you want to feel.

So when:

Someone asks you to join an event
A plan shifts
You’re deciding whether to spend your energy on something or let it go

You can ask yourself one thing…
Does this move me closer to or further away from how I want to feel?

So much of our stress during the holidays is from saying yes when we realized we needed to have said no.


From not having clear boundaries to getting caught up in expectations, we tend to override our own capacity and forget we have a say in how this season unfolds.

The little step of setting an intention gives us something to guide us when everything around us speeds up.

Ready to put this into action?


Write your intention on a sticky note or index card and put it somewhere you’ll see it. It will be a reminder that you get to choose how you respond to and move through the next few weeks.

Wherever you are today, and whatever this season looks like, I hope this gives you a bit more space to breathe.

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