Happy December! I don't know how your November was but mine felt like a whirlwind. Between removing hardware from my leg, celebrating Caleb coming home, putting up wood for the winter, traveling to Boston, hosting friends and gearing up for the holidays, I over did... everything. In retrospect the overdoing snuck up on me because everything happening was so good! I said “yes” to everything because it was exciting, meaningful, or just too good to miss.
Here’s the rub: even joy can become overwhelming when we don’t honor the need to slow down.
The “Good Overdoing” Hangover
Do you also know the feeling?:
Your calendar is a parade of wins and milestones, but your energy reserves are running on fumes.
You’re carrying a subtle pressure to get everything just right—to meet every deadline, create the perfect gathering, or wrap up the year “flawlessly.”
Despite the excitement, there’s an undercurrent of exhaustion whispering, “Just take a day and do nothing.”
Well, yesterday this all came to a head. It was my November hangover day. Overdoing—even the good kind—left me feeling mentally, emotionally and physically drained. So, I gave myself permission to slow down and be right where I was, feeling what I was feeling and doing what I was doing (laying on the couch in my cheetalicious bathrobe until 1pm binging Atypical on Netflix. I did get out for fresh air after that and made dinner before getting back to the couch).
Pause and Realign
This is my gentle reminder to you -and me- that slowing down doesn’t mean stopping. It means giving ourselves permission to pause, breathe and find balance. It’s about embracing imperfection and trusting that a day here and there of not over producing does not mean we are a lazy human. It’s giving ourselves permission to bring the scattered pieces of us back to center. It's being aware of how we feel and what is next going to serve us.
Here are a few ways to do that:
Take a Day to Play: Everyday does not have to be a monumental achievement of your to do list. Give yourself credit for the smaller victories as you set out to have more fun.
Carve Out White Space: Leave blank spots in your schedule for rest, creativity, or spontaneity. It’s not wasted time; it’s essential time.
Ask for Help: You don’t have to do it all yourself. Delegate, collaborate, or simply let someone know you need a hand.
Anchor in Your No: Weigh the importance of what you are being asked to do and say no when the drain outweighs the rewards- even when the activity is a good one.
Embrace the Messy Middle
As November transitions into December, let’s remember that life doesn’t need to be perfectly polished to be meaningful. The energy we bring matters more than any checklist we conquer.
So here’s to riding out the “hangover” of abundance—with grace, intention, and the courage to slow down when needed.
Take a deep breath. You’re doing great.
Warmly,Erin
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