it's the most ___ time of the year

a free + early holiday gift for you inside

Oh friends, we’re on the brink of the holiday season, with Thanksgiving happening next week in the U.S. It’s the appetizer for the festivities during the entire month of December. Cozy gatherings, special treats, and twinkling lights in the midst of the darkest, coldest time of year are wonderful in theory; however, this is a time many of us feel some combo of overwhelmed, stressed, busy, obligated, longing, perfectionistic, lonely, disappointed, sad, exhausted, and guilt/shame for not being 100% fa la la la la.

It’s common for us to have heightened anxiety this time of year about money, travel, socializing, family, deadlines, and meeting others’ expectations. Many of us are pulled by the need to people please, and we often fall into codependent habits to make sure everyone else is feeling merry and the festivities are bright. This can be especially true for the women I know who are in midlife, as we are the ones who have been socialized (via the friggin’ patriarchy) to take on the bu…