Let’s love the holidays again

You feel the push and pull of the holidays: the errands, the buying, the too-tight pants, the traveling, the expectations, and All The Things. Feeling stressed, tired, and a bit worn out from all the celebrating has stolen your love for the holidays.

You want to make the holiday season memorable AND you want to be kind to yourself in the process: to experience joy not dread; to remember why you’re celebrating not wishing for January; to be present not rushing through it all.

Here you’ll find 31 curated resources to help you love the holidays again, everything from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve, from social media strategies to taming perfectionism, from body image to busyness. All the areas you struggle in one spot. Consider this your personal Amazon for holiday resources!

You don’t need to read every article or listen to every podcast, just find what you’re most interested in and start there.

Let’s talk turkey… and also gratitude and Thanksgiving

• When you want to get back to the basics of gratitude, this Lazy Genius podcast episode shows the way.
• What are the three keys to hosting Thanksgiving? The Lazy Genius spills the beans.
• When you whitewash the pain and jump right into thankfulness, read this before you do.
• How do know whether you’re truly content or simply settling? You’ll want to read this.
• When you’d rather escape the parenting season than be thankful for it, go here.

May we never forget the reason for this season

• So often I think of Christmas as starry skies and silent nights, but let us never forget what Jesus came to do.
• What does it look like in your life to wait with great hope? Emily Freeman shares what that might look like during the busiest time of the year.
• One attribute of God is that He is our Good Shepherd. Here’s a reminder of why He is so worthy of worship.

Feeling hurried + hassled + a bit overwhelmed right about now?

• Amy Carroll and Cheri Gregory share how to create white space when your calendar is blacked out in this Grit-n-Grace Girls podcast episode.
• Stress is real and it hurts our hearts. What do we do about it? NextTalk podcast co-hosts Kim Elerick and Mandy Majors talk about how we can help our kids navigate stress as we manage our own. (Look for Episode 59)
• How do you stop your busy schedule from stealing your joy this Christmas? You start here to read the post and get your free printable to help you determine your prioritize and then develop a plan.
• Are you overscheduled and over it? So are NextTalk podcast co-hosts Kim Elerick and Mandy Majors so they dive deep into the practical realities of this frustration. (Look for episode 54)
• The Lazy Genius takes on holiday overwhelm and she definitely comes out the winner in this podcast episode.
• What happens when all doesn’t feel merry and bright, but you can’t name what’s bothering you? Here’s a good place to start.

Everything I could find about pie, pants, and body image

• I love pumpkin pie, but in my quest to look perfect, I often obsess about eating it. If you struggle with body image around the holidays, look no further than this blog post.
• The Lazy Genius points out in this podcast episode that maybe the weight we need to lose isn’t the weight around our hips.

When your expectations for a perfect Christmas collide with your reality

• Traditions are such a lovely part of the holidays, but how do we stop our unrealistic expectations from getting the best of us? Co-hosts Cheri Gregory and Amy Carroll break it down in this Grit-n-Grace Girls episode.
• How do we stop expectations from ruining our Christmas? Read on my friend!
• Which one of these three mistakes are you making this season: Are you trying to do it all? Do you feel responsible for everyone’s happiness? Are you refusing to recognize your limitations? Yeah me too. So what do we do? Start by reading this.
• You want to have an incredible Christmas, but find yourself bumping up against time, money, and support. What’s a girl to do? Listen to Emily Freeman’s voice navigate you through embracing your limits.
• Excellence can be your enemy when you forget your people and make your perfect performance/Christmas tree/Thanksgiving dinner the priority. How can excellence become a friend again? Read this.
• You could be missing these six gifts while you’re trying to be perfect and make the season perfect for others.

When the friends + family plan is wearing you out

• Scrolling through picture after picture of perfect trees, thematically-dressed families, and gorgeous desserts served by skinny people can feel like The Worst. Here are two truths to hold on to so you can stay sane on social media.
• Family is hard. Togetherness with people you aren’t normally together with is also hard. Learn how to navigate family tension as you listen to wisdom from The Lazy Genius.
• I find that it’s more natural for me to compare myself with others rather than connect with them. But Emily Freeman’s sharing truth that reminds to choose connection.

Sometimes New Year’s Eve + goal setting makes us want to crawl under a rock

• Not invited to a New Year’s Eve party and feeling a little bummed about it? Here are three questions to ask yourself.
• There are three types of goal-setters. Which type are you?
• What would it look like to receive a new beginning even as we’re frustrated with our old habits and patterns? Emily Freeman points out that maturity may not be in being perfect, but in always returning to God.
• How does your personality type impact how you set goals? Find out when you read this.
• Can self-improvement turn into self-bullying? Yes, but it doesn’t have to be that way when you know this.
• Are you a woman who HATES goal-setting? Then listen in on this Goal-Digger conversation between host Jenna Kutcher and guest Lara Casey.

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