HOW TO BEAT FESTIVE OVERWHELM AND ENJOY THE SEASON AGAIN

Festive overwhelm creeps up quietly. One minute you’re buying mince pies, the next you’re knee-deep in social plans, family expectations, late-night shopping, and the annual pressure to “make it magical”.

If December is already starting to feel noisy, you’re not imagining it. Most people try to cram an extra month of life into three weeks. That’s why the season feels both wonderful and chaotic. You can’t control the world, but you can absolutely control your load. And that starts with deciding what’s enough.

This edition is about simplifying the season so you don’t end it exhausted. Instead, you finish it with a clearer head, steadier energy, and space for the things that matter.

THE SHIFT: FROM EVERYTHING TO ENOUGH

Most overwhelm comes from the illusion that we must do it all. The perfect dinner. Every event. Every message. Every tradition. It’s not just unrealistic; it’s unnecessary.

The antidote is the Enough List – your personal line in the sand. It’s the opposite of a to-do list. Instead of piling on tasks, you strip the season back to 1–3 things that genuinely matter to you. When you do that, everything else becomes optional rather than compulsory.

THE ENOUGH LIST: KEEP IT TO 1–3 ITEMS

Tonight, write down the three things that, if they happened, would make this Christmas feel good enough. Not perfect. Not impressive. Enough. The point is clarity. If you try to choose ten, you’ve missed the point. Make it tight. Examples:

• One slow dinner with the people you like.
• A quiet morning to reset before the big days begin.
• A spending limit that stops January feeling like a punishment.
• A walk every other day so your head stays clear.

When you choose your enough, everything else becomes negotiable instead of automatic.

THE 3–2–1 RULE FOR A CALMER DECEMBER

Pair your enough list with the 3–2–1 Rule and you’ve got a simple, reliable system to keep the festive pressure in check. Use this as your daily guide through the season:

Three minutes – Pause before you say yes. Ask: “Do I want this, or do I just feel expected to?”

Two boundaries – Set two firm lines that protect your wellbeing. Examples: no events after 9pm; phone out of the bedroom; Christmas Day walk before presents.

One win – Complete one simple thing each day that keeps you grounded. Ten-minute walk. A tidy room. One early night. Don’t overthink it.

These three anchors stop December running you ragged.

THE NEXT 48 HOURS

Tonight, write your 1–3 item Enough List. Put it somewhere visible. Then choose your two boundaries. And tomorrow morning, start with your first “one win”.

A calmer Christmas doesn’t happen by chance. It happens because you take charge of the load instead of carrying everyone else’s.

WORK WITH NIGEL

Coaching, NLP & Hypnotherapy to change habits and reduce anxiety — in person (Charing, Kent) or online. www.9kmby9am.com.

Book: Walking Back to Happiness — The Secret to Alcohol-Free Living & Well-Being. A practical, uplifting guide to reset your habits and mindset — the perfect Christmas gift for starting the New Year on the right path. Packed with over 70 exercises or steps you can take to improve your well-being and happiness, it’s a blueprint of how to live your best life! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nigel-Jones/e/B0B7RP6LH6/

Try First Class Coach — Nigel’s AI coach — to keep you accountable between sessions.

If you’re ready to change your story, get in touch for a free discovery call:
https://www.9kmby9am.com/coaching/discovery-call/

HAVE A GREAT DAY…

Your Life Coach

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