Ep 56 - Simple, Calm, and Healthy: A Stress-Free Approach to the Holidays

Healthy & Productive Living | Habits, Time Management, Routines, Consistency, Motivation, Weight Loss for Women Over 40

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If you’re craving a simple, calm, and healthy holiday season this year, this episode will feel like a breath of fresh air. December can easily turn into a whirlwind of shopping, decorating, scheduling, cooking, budgeting, and carrying the mental load for everyone. But a simpler holiday doesn’t mean a less meaningful one. In fact, simplifying your season might help you show up with more joy, presence, and energy than ever.

In this episode, I talk through how the holidays feel different for everyone and why it’s important to stay aligned with what matters most to you, not what social media or cultural pressure tells you to do. Gifts might not be your love language. Clutter might drain you. A tight holiday budget might matter deeply. And if so, this season can feel heavy. You’re not alone.

We’ll walk through the hidden mental load women often carry this time of year and why it’s so easy to slip into holiday overwhelm. You’ll learn why it’s completely normal to feel stretched thin, and why doing “all the things” doesn’t automatically create a more meaningful December.

Most importantly, we talk about the power of simplifying. Simplifying your holiday season can lighten your mental load, protect your energy, and help you create a calmer, more connected experience for you and your family. I’ll share several practical ways I’ve simplified over the years and how each one has helped me show up with more presence.

In this episode I cover:

🔸 Why the mental load increases for so many women in December

🔸 How financial pressure around gifting impacts stress and energy

🔸 Why clutter, overspending, and holiday expectations feel overwhelming

🔸 How simplifying helps you stay aligned with what actually matters

🔸 The connection between simplicity, presence, and meaningful holiday memories

🔸 Personal examples of simplifying gifts, budgeting, meals, and holiday traditions

🔸 How delegating holiday responsibilities can reduce stress and strengthen connection

🔸 A simple Google Sheets system for staying organized and on budget

🔸 Why elegant simplicity can bring more joy than over-complicating (thanks, Ina Garten!)

🔸 How to identify your own holiday tipping point so you stay on the enjoyment side

If you’ve ever found yourself feeling tired, stretched thin, or overwhelmed by holiday expectations, this episode will give you clarity, a shift in perspective, and a breath of fresh air. A simple, calm, and healthy December is absolutely possible for you.

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The content of this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only, not medical advice. Please speak with your health care professional about any health concerns you may have.