The holidays stir up more than shopping lists and travel plans. For some, they awaken emotions we’ve tucked away all year: grief, pressure, fatigue, or the quiet ache of missing something or someone we can’t replace.
At work, most people don’t talk about it. They act fine. They keep smiling. They hit the deadlines. But under the surface, they're overwhelmed.
Maybe that’s you this week. You’ve got responsibilities to meet, deadlines to hit, and family dynamics waiting for you at home. Instead of bracing for the full weight of it all, what if this year you paused to ask a bold, life-saving question:
“What can I put down?”
Not everything you carry is yours to hold forever. And not every tradition needs to be repeated just because “that’s how we’ve always done it.”
Let’s explore how to move through this week with grace, purpose, and a little breathing room.
The Science of Why This Week Feels Heavier
Stress levels increase by 38% during the holiday season, according to the American Psychological Association. But it’s not just the extra errands or the packed calendar.
Holidays often open the door for buried emotions to resurface. Things like old memories, grief, or unresolved tension.
And we know from neuroscience that the brain doesn’t separate emotional pain from physical pain. In fact, the same region of our brain lights up the same way whether we feel emotionally hurt or experience physical injury.
The translation? That weight in your chest, that emotional exhaustion is real.
Add to that the pressure of pretending everything’s fine at work, and no wonder so many professionals feel like they’re barely holding it together.
But remember this, you are not broken. You’re just trying to carry too much.
Mental Reframe of the Week: “Expectations vs. Impact”
If you’re feeling pressure to do it all, here’s a reset:
--> “What makes the biggest impact?”
Let’s reframe this together:
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You don’t have to deep clean the house. No one is going to look underneath your refrigerator. And if they do, let's talk straight: There's something wrong with them, not you.
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You don’t have to cook enough for an army. And if your family really is an army of 30, then make it a potluck and ask everyone to pitch in. Or, find creative ways to save time and make it easier on yourself.
The one thing your family will remember is how present you were. How you sat beside them for holiday movie night without scrolling your phone.
At work, maybe the highest-impact move is communicating clearly about what you can get done before the break vs. and what can wait until next week.
Focus on impact. Let go of the performance.
POC Reset Tool: One Pause That Changes the Week
This week, use the POC Reset to lighten the emotional and mental load you’re carrying:
✔️ Pause
When you're feeling pressure, step away, if even for a couple of minutes.
Take a few deep breaths, place your hand over your heart. Placing your hand over your heart stimulates the vagus nerve, which signals your nervous system to shift out of stress mode. This small gesture can lower your heart rate, steady your breathing, and help your body relax.
Tell yourself:
"I’m allowed to pause."
✔️ Orient
Ask yourself:
--> What are the tasks or traditions I’ve been doing out of obligation, not value?
--> If I let go of one of those this week, what would I gain (peace, time, energy, sleep)?
--> What can I do right now that would have the greatest impact?
✔️ Choose
--> Prioritize 1 high-impact task at work. What has to be done even if nothing else is accomplished this week?
--> Choose 1 high-impact activity for home that will create the best memories.
These are your anchors. Everything else can be adjusted, delayed, or simplified.
Write them down, and let these be your compass. You don't have to do it all. You don't have to be perfect.
Protect your peace and well-being by focusing on the most important tasks or activities.
âś… The Bottom Line
The world won’t fall apart if you do a little less. But you might fall apart if you keep trying to do more or pretending you're fine when you’re not. This week isn’t about doing it all. It’s about doing what counts… and letting that be enough.
đź“Ś One More Thing Before You Go:
You don’t have to earn rest by finishing everything first. You don’t have to justify your emotions, explain your exhaustion, or power through the week pretending you’re fine.
If your mind and heart feel heavier than usual right now, that doesn’t mean you’re weak, it means you’re human.
Give yourself the grace to feel what you feel and still move forward in a way that honors both your responsibilities and your well-being.
