The holidays have a way of sneaking up on us, don’t they? One minute it’s pumpkins and cozy sweaters, the next it’s Christmas lists, class parties, and a dining room table that somehow becomes a wrapping station.
It’s easy to slip into survival mode during this season. You want it to feel magical for your family, but it ends up feeling like a marathon you didn’t train for. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be that way this year.
If you want a slower, calmer holiday season, it starts in your mind.
Here’s how to prepare mentally before the chaos begins:
1. Decide what matters most this year
You can’t do everything, and honestly, you don’t need to. Every year comes with pressure to bake the cookies, attend every event, buy all the matching pajamas, and make memories that look Pinterest-worthy.
But here’s the truth: your family doesn’t need a picture-perfect holiday. They need a mom who’s present.
So ask yourself, what actually matters to me this year? Maybe it’s a slow morning on Christmas Eve, maybe it’s less spending and more intention, maybe it’s protecting your peace and saying no to things that drain you.
Once you know what matters, let everything else be optional.
2. Loosen your grip on perfection
You know what steals joy faster than anything? Trying to make it all perfect.
Perfect meals, perfect gifts, perfect moments — they sound nice in theory, but in reality they only leave you anxious and exhausted.
The truth is, no one remembers the perfectly wrapped gift or the spotless house. They remember how it felt to be together. They remember laughter, warmth, and the way the house smelled like cinnamon rolls.
Give yourself permission to do things well enough this year.
3. Prepare your mindset before your calendar
Before you fill your calendar, check your mindset. Ask, “Does this event or activity line up with the kind of season I want?”
If your goal is calm, steady days, then saying yes to every invitation is going to work against that.
There’s nothing wrong with skipping a party or choosing a night in with hot cocoa instead of another outing. You’re allowed to create margin. You’re allowed to protect your energy.
When you make decisions from intention instead of obligation, your whole holiday rhythm shifts.
4. Expect things to go sideways sometimes
Even with the best intentions, something will go wrong. Someone will get sick, the gift you ordered won’t arrive on time, or the cookies will burn. Mentally preparing for imperfection makes those moments easier to handle. You can take a deep breath, laugh it off, and remind yourself that this isn’t the thing that defines the season.
The steadiness comes from choosing calm when everything around you feels chaotic.
5. Slow down enough to actually enjoy it
It’s easy to rush through the holidays without ever stopping to take them in. This year, make a point to pause. Turn off the noise, light a candle, sit with your coffee before the house wakes up, or take a walk outside and breathe in the crisp air.
The moments that fill your soul aren’t found in the hustle, they’re found in the pauses you intentionally create.
A slower holiday starts with a steadier mindset.
The calm you crave doesn’t come from the perfect plan, it comes from preparing your heart and mind before the rush begins.
So this year, decide what matters most, lower your expectations, protect your margin, and give yourself grace. The holidays don’t have to be full of chaos — they can be full of calm, connection, and the steady joy that comes from living intentionally.
If you’re craving a slower pace — not just for the holidays but for everyday life — you’ll love Choosing Slow. It’s the guide that helps you trade chaos for calm and build steady rhythms that actually fit your real life as a mom. Because slowing down isn’t about doing less, it’s about doing what matters most. You can grab it here.
Until next time,
Lori
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