Harrison: Five tips to prevent holiday burnout

Every December, we collectively tumble into the holiday season with a mix of excitement, pressure, and the faint hope that this might be the year we finally get it right.

But for many people across West Carleton, the holidays arrive with a familiar undercurrent – exhaustion.

We don’t talk about it enough. Burnout is often hidden behind carefully curated moments, the decorated tree, the family photos, the full calendar, while underneath, many people are running on their last reserves.

If this season already feels heavier than it should, you’re not alone. And you’re not doing anything wrong. Below are five grounded, practical reminders that can help reshape your holiday experience into something more sustainable and more human.

Lower the Bar — ‘Good Enough’ is the Real Gift

We’ve been sold the idea that the holidays should be flawless. Perfect meals. Perfect gifts. Perfect family dynamics (as if those exist). But perfection is a luxury few of us have time, energy, or emotional bandwidth for. And truthfully, it’s often the biggest contributor to holiday burnout.

What if good enough became the standard instead? Pick one or two things you actually care about, the rest can be simple or even skipped entirely. Because here’s the truth: the people who love you don’t need a perfect holiday. They need a present you.

Protect Your Energy Like It Matters – Because It Does

If your December feels like you’re constantly sprinting, you’re not imagining it, the season is demanding. Think of your energy as a budget. Every event, obligation, or family expectation is a transaction. Overspend, and you pay for it in burnout. This is the year to practice saying, “I’m at capacity.” It’s not rude. It’s not dramatic. It’s honest. And it’s one of the kindest things you can do for your mental health.

Build in Recovery Time (your nervous system will thank you)

Most of us schedule the holidays with no white space back-to-back gatherings, errands, and emotional labour. But the nervous system wasn’t designed to operate without pauses.

Add micro-breaks. Sit quietly in your car before going inside. Take a 10-minute walk between commitments. Give yourself the grace of a slow moment.

These small resets don’t just prevent burnout, they give your brain room to enjoy the moments that actually matter.

Expect Emotional Triggers — Not Everything ‘Merry’ Feels Bright

Behind the festive lights, the holidays can be complicated. Grief resurfaces. Old family patterns reappear. Loneliness feels sharper. Even happy memories can come with an emotional echo.

Nothing is wrong with you if this season feels tender.

When we expect the emotional complexity rather than avoiding it, we move through it with more steadiness and far less shame.

A trigger isn’t a failure, it’s information. Use it to set boundaries, plan ahead, and choose the environments that support your wellbeing.

Do One Thing That Belongs Entirely to You

In a season that asks us to give, give, give, it’s easy to forget that you’re allowed to keep something for yourself.

Pick one ritual that restores you. A special coffee. A quiet morning. A walk in the cold air. A workout that grounds your body. A TV show you don’t apologize for loving.

That one small act is a reminder that your needs don’t vanish in December and that tending to yourself is not selfish, it’s stabilizing and necessary.

A final reflection

Holiday burnout isn’t a character flaw. It’s a byproduct of a season that asks more than most humans can deliver.

If you take nothing else from these tips, let it be this:

• You don’t have to earn your rest.
• You don’t have to perform your joy.
• And you are allowed to create a holiday season that feels humane – not overwhelming.