December rolled around and I was like – oh great, holiday stress time again. Honestly, it always hits me harder than I expect. Last year felt like drowning in tinsel. This year? I decided to actually do something about it instead of just complaining. Here’s how my messy fight against the December Blues went down.
Step one? I admitted it out loud. Sat down at my cluttered desk Tuesday morning, just staring at the avalanche of gift wrapping supplies threatening to bury me, and said to my coffee mug: “Alright. I’m stressed. This sucks.” Felt silly, but also weirdly freeing. Just naming it helped me stop pretending everything was fine.
So I grabbed my crappy notebook. No fancy journal, just the one with grease stains from last week’s pizza. Titled a page “December Stress Stuff.” And I just dumped it all out. Worried about affording gifts. Annoyed thinking about Uncle Bob’s awkward political rants at the family dinner. Dreading the crowded stores. Feeling guilty that I wasn’t feeling “merry and bright.” Seeing it scribbled there felt less scary, somehow.
Time To Get Real
My instinct was to hide under a blanket and binge bad TV. Instead, I actually opened my calendar app. No fancy planning app, just the basic one on my phone. I blocked out big chunks of time. Like, actual two-hour slots labelled “BUY STUFF” for next Saturday morning when I know the mall opens early and is quieter. Then, crucially, I blocked out ME time. Seriously. Saturday afternoon? “DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IMPORTANT.” Put it right there in caps. Felt a tiny bit less overwhelmed just seeing that space reserved.
Then came the gift list. I panicked, remembering last year’s credit card bill. I sat down with my partner after dinner, poured some cheap wine, and said: “Okay, reality check. What can we actually spend?” We made a hard budget. Then we looked at the list of people we “had” to buy for. Cut three names right off the bat. For others? We agreed on homemade cookies instead of fancy gadgets. Felt ruthless, but also… smart.
No Doesn’t Mean I’m A Scrooge
The hardest part? Saying NO. My coworker pinged about the massive office party on a Friday night. Normally I’d grumble and go, feeling miserable. This time? I took a deep breath and typed: “Sounds fun! Wish I could make it, but I have plans that night. Hope you all have a blast!” Sent it before I could overthink. The sky didn’t fall. Felt amazing. Did it again when an old friend asked me to help decorate her whole dang house. Felt guilty for maybe two minutes, then just relieved.
I also remembered what helped last year: sticking to my routines. When the chaos ramps up, these tiny anchors keep me sane. I forced myself to keep my nightly 30 minutes of reading, even when the laundry pile screamed. Tried really hard to not skip meals – stress makes me forget to eat, which makes everything worse. Packed simple lunches instead of buying overpriced junk food downtown. One day I got stuck in traffic Christmas shopping and totally skipped my walk. Next day? Made damn sure I got outside, even just for ten minutes of cold air. It mattered.
And when the inner critic started shouting (“Those cookies aren’t perfect, you’re lazy!” “You forgot Aunt Mildred? You monster!”), I tried to talk back to myself like I’d talk to a stressed-out friend. Told myself: “Dude, chill. Aunt Mildred probably forgot your birthday too. And the cookies? They taste fine. Seriously, give yourself a break.” Sounds dumb, but kinda worked.
Finally, I reached out. Texted a friend who always gets December dread: “Yo, me too. Wanna vent over coffee next week?” Made plans with my sister to bake without the pressure of it being “perfect.” Called my mom just to chat, no holiday agenda. Connected with real people, not just curated “perfect holiday” social media junk.
So, What Actually Worked?
Honestly? Not everything clicked instantly. I still had moments of panic. But overall? Felt way less buried than last year. Here’s the stuff I’m actually going to try remembering next December:
- Name the Beast: Yelling “STRESSED!” into the void helps.
- Claim Your Time: Block calendar time for YOU like it’s a doctor’s appointment. Because it kinda is.
- Budget Ruthlessly: Money AND energy. Say NO to people and things that drain you.
- Protect Your Basics: Sleep, food, maybe a little movement. Don’t ditch them.
- Talk Nicer to Yourself: You deserve kindness, especially from you.
- Ditch “Perfect”: Good enough truly is good enough. Seriously.
- Reach Out: You’re not alone. Find your people who get it.
Did I become December’s happy master? Nah. But I fought the blues instead of just sinking, and that feels like a win.
