It’s Okay if the Holidays Aren’t Magical: Therapy Tools for Real People
Let’s just say the quiet part out loud:
The holidays are a lot.
And even if Instagram keeps telling you they should feel soft, sparkly, and magical… sometimes the holidays feel more like laundry piles, school concerts, a calendar that won’t quit, and the overwhelming urge to throw that elf on the shelf away.
If your December feels less “winter wonderland” and more “who is in charge of this circus?” — you’re not doing anything wrong.
You’re human. You’re tired. Your nervous system is overwhelmed.
At the Center for Collaborative Health, we want to take the pressure off your shoulders. Because the truth is: magic doesn’t come from perfect moments — it comes from being present for the real ones.
Now say this out loud, “I fully give myself permission this holiday season to stay present. To stay in the moment. Even if it’s messy and not Instagram-aesthetic, I am allowing myself to breathe.”
Social Media Isn’t Real Life —
So Stop Comparing Your December to Someone Else’s Highlight Reel
That mom on Instagram with the color-coordinated family pajamas, spotless kitchen, and children who somehow aren’t sticky? Spoiler alert: it’s not real. You’re getting a glimpse of one second that we’re allowed to see.
She has messes too.
She has stress too.
She has days she feels behind.
You’re not failing because your house looks lived in.
You’re not failing because your kids are feral by 4 p.m.
You’re not failing because you didn’t plan 12 days of holiday activities.
You’re living a real life — not a curated feed.
When Everything Feels Like “Too Much,” Your Nervous System Is Trying to Talk to You
Therapy teaches us that overwhelm isn’t a personal weakness — it’s a physiological response to constant demands.
Busy moms especially live in the land of:
● sensory overload
● back-to-back responsibilities
● mental lists running 24/7
If December feels like everything is turned up to a 10, it’s because your nervous system is running a marathon with no finish line in sight.
The good news?
You can support it — gently, realistically, and even in tiny pockets of time.
We’ve pulled together our list of Real Therapy Tools for Real People (Who Don’t Have an Hour of Quiet Time)
These aren’t “wake up at 5 a.m. and meditate for 45 minutes while sipping matcha” tools.
These are small, doable, evidence-based practices you can use in real life — the carpool line, the bathroom, the Target parking lot, or standing at the kitchen counter while someone yells “Mom! Mom! Mom!”
1. Box Breathing (60 Seconds)
Our therapists’ favorite for a reason.
● Breathe in for 4
● Hold for 4
● Exhale for 4
● Hold for 4
Repeat a few times.
This resets your nervous system and brings your stress level down from “everything is a lot” to “I can handle this moment.”
2. The 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique
When your thoughts start spiraling:
● 5 things you can see
● 4 things you can feel
● 3 things you can hear
● 2 things you can smell
● 1 thing you can taste
This interrupts anxiety and brings your brain back into the present.
3. The “Permission Slip”
Write this sentence on your phone or on a sticky note:
“I’m allowed to rest even when everything isn’t done.”
Therapy teaches us that rest isn’t earned — it’s needed.
Especially during emotionally heavy seasons.
4. Two-Minute Reset
Put your phone down, put one hand on your chest and one on your belly, and breathe slowly.
Notice: Am I clenching my jaw? Am I holding my shoulders up to my ears? Am I bracing?
Release one thing. Just one.
5. Journal Prompts That Don’t Require a 20-Page Entry
Try one of these:
● “What is one thing I’m carrying that I can put down — even temporarily?”
● “What expectation am I holding that is stealing joy from this season?”
● “If I didn’t feel pressure to make the holidays magical, what would a good-enough December look like?”
Even 3 sentences can shift your mental load.
6. A One-Minute Meditation for Busy Moms
Close your eyes or soften your gaze.
Say to yourself:
I’m here.
I’m safe.
I’m allowed to take care of myself, too.”
That’s meditation — simple and powerful.
Your Holidays Don’t Need to Be Magical to Be Meaningful
You are not the cruise director of December.
You are a human being with limits, emotions, responsibilities, and a nervous system that deserves gentleness.
If this season feels heavy, messy, or not-Pinterest-perfect, you’re not alone — you’re normal.
And here’s the part we want you to hear:
You don’t have to navigate this alone.
Therapy gives you:
● tools to manage the overwhelm
● space to process the emotional load
● strategies to set boundaries
● support to rediscover your own needs
● a soft place to land during hard seasons
If you’re craving relief, calm, or support this December, our therapists at the Center for Collaborative Health are here for you — with compassion, evidence-based care, and a judgment-free space designed for real people with real lives.
Ready to feel more grounded this season?
You deserve support — not perfection.
📲 Book a therapy or medication management appointment:
https://centerforcollaborativehealth.janeapp.com/
🌿 Learn more about our therapists:
www.centerforcollaborativehealth.com
