The Christmas period arrives each year wrapped in expectations, joy, family, sparkle, celebration. But the reality? It’s a far more complicated season for many of us.
Behind the adverts and the fairy lights, December can feel heavy, lonely, overwhelming, or simply too much, and it’s important to say this clearly: Not everyone celebrates Christmas, not everyone enjoys it, and not everyone finds this time of year easy.
Whether you observe it religiously, culturally, socially, or not at all, the pressure of the season can take a toll on your mental and emotional wellbeing, and that is valid.
So here’s your gentle reminder that you’re allowed to look after you, with no guilt, no comparison, and no shoulds.
🎄 When the season feels overwhelming
The holidays can amplify a lot: noise, crowds, expectations, spending, social obligations, family dynamics, grief, routine changes, and sensory overload. Even the constant messaging that you’re supposed to feel merry can create its own emotional pressure.
Signs you might be feeling it:
- Exhaustion with no obvious reason
- Feeling “on edge” or overstimulated
- Wanting quiet over celebration
- Struggling to keep up socially or emotionally
- Feeling disconnected, sad, or flat
- Using caffeine, sugar, or alcohol to cope
You’re not alone, this is an incredibly common response to a demanding season.
🧠 You’re allowed to set boundaries
One of the most powerful things you can do during the Christmas period is protect your emotional energy.
You are absolutely allowed to say:
- “I won’t make that event this year.”
- “I need a bit of quiet time today.”
- “I’m keeping gifts simple.”
- “No alcohol for me, thanks.”
- “I’m not celebrating, but thank you for thinking of me.”
Boundary-setting is not rude, it’s self-preservation.
🫶 Not everyone celebrates Christmas
It’s important to recognise that Christmas is not universal, many people:
- don’t observe it for religious or cultural reasons
- find the season emotionally triggering
- focus instead on rest, reflection, or simply treating it as a normal week
- choose minimal or no celebration because of personal preference
Every way of approaching December is valid. If you’re someone who doesn’t celebrate, you still deserve space, kindness, and understanding, not assumptions or pressure to join in.
🌿 Ways to take care of yourself this season
Here are some grounding, nurturing things you can do that don’t rely on festivities or forced cheer:
✨ 1. Keep your body nourished.
Skipping meals, surviving on chocolate or caffeine, and disrupting routines can intensify stress. Aim for regular, grounding meals, your brain needs that fuel.
✨ 2. Build in quiet pockets of calm.
Even five minutes of deep breathing, sensory regulation, or solitude can reset your nervous system.
✨ 3. Protect your sleep rhythm.
Late nights and irregular schedules disrupt hormones and mood. A consistent wind-down routine can make the world of difference.
✨ 4. Move gently.
Not workouts, just movement. A short walk, stretching, chair yoga, dancing in your kitchen, movement helps unstick stress from the body.
✨ 5. Limit the comparison spiral.
Social media becomes a highlight reel of the “perfect Christmas”. Remember: curated posts do not equal reality.
✨ 6. Reach out if you need support.
A text to a friend, a chat with someone you trust, or accessing professional support, connection helps regulate the nervous system.
✨ 7. Give yourself permission to do less.
Truly. Slowing down isn’t failure, it’s wisdom.
🎁 Redefine what this season means for you
Whether December is joyful, complex, quiet, painful, ordinary, or something entirely different, you get to decide how you navigate it.
There’s no single “right” way to feel, there’s no rule that says you must be festive, there’s no expectation you need to meet.
If this season is hard, be gentle with yourself.
If this season is peaceful, honour that.
If this season is emotionally mixed, welcome the nuance.
However you move through the next few weeks, please remember: Your wellbeing matters, your experience matters, and you are allowed to make choices that protect your peace.
Event Wellbeing Matters 