Running on empty? Here is how to resource yourself for December

Because if you don’t resource yourself now, nobody else is going to do it for you.

Mamas, we’re about to enter the RED ZONE. And no, I’m not just talking about the Coca-Cola trucks or Starbucks cups. (FYI: the only time I’ve ever swigged Coke was when I was hallucinating during an Alpine marathon, and I remain fiercely loyal to independent coffee shops.)

But it’s not just the branding that’s gone blood red. It’s the mum stress zone. Expectations on mums are always ridiculous and a huge contributor to mum guilt, but at Christmas they shoot into the danger zone.

You are expected to become a Christmas Miracle

• The diary manager and invite clash negotiator
• The chief present buyer and idea generator for every relative (I have a cheat for this if you want it)
• The military planner, ensuring the online shop covers all eventualities, allergies and apocalypses
• The festive interior decorator
• The celebrity chef
• The festive appeaser, peacekeeper and people pleaser

And we haven’t even touched the Elf on the Shelf guy.

Plus, you might be trying to stretch the dregs of annual leave to cover it all when the kids break up on the 19th and will 100% catch a winter bug before then. ‘Tis the season.

And of course you’re supposed to glide through it all wearing festive lipstick, feeling merry, bright and full of yuletide cheer.

It is a lot.

If you’ve been reading these for a while, you’ll remember that, back in summer, I asked you to think about how you could resource yourself so you weren’t running on fumes by December. I’m going to guess most of us didn’t quite get around to it.

No matter. We can still do this.

(How tired do I look in this pic from a year ago!)

The double-win

There are two reasons we’re doing this. Firstly, we want to get to December 25th feeling as good as possible (and I speak as someone who has spent that day sobbing uncontrollably on the floor).

Secondly, December is actually the perfect month to try on the habits you might want next year. No pressure. No commitments. Just a soft launch. A little espresso of an experiment to see what makes you feel calmer, healthier, steadier. Fancy a shot?

Here are three quick wins to get you out of the red zone.

1. Dreaming of a white Christmas? Block white space now.
I want some white space in your diary every week from now until the end of the year. Even half an hour. December gets chaotic fast. We rush from one thing to the next, chased by a terrifying to-do list that coils around us like a boa constrictor as our deadline looms. Protect some breathing space. Down time. A sliver of quiet. Bonus points if you can book in something lovely. And if you do this now, congratulations, you’ve already nailed an easy New Year’s habit.

2. Protect your energy by saying no.
Been invited to three work Christmas parties? Choose the one you’ll actually enjoy.
Mum wants you to have a mince pie with Aunty Ethel who always criticises your parenting? Hard pass.
Kids begging for a £100 breakfast with Santa? No.
Ah, would you look at that. White space is already appearing.

3. Support the body that’s carrying you through the madness.
December is full of sugar, alcohol and feasting. Your body is about to go through a lot. What can you give it in return? A brisk walk in sunlight at lunch. A minute of meditation? A 15-minute YouTube yoga flow or dance workout? Think of this as a soft launch for habits you might want to keep in the new year. I’m cutting down to one cup of coffee, which is hard given my aforementioned love of independent coffee shops.

And if that all feels like too much, there is one cheat. Go to bed earlier. It regulates your nervous system. It helps with mood, patience and energy. And it’s the perfect month to climb into bed with a good book and a hot chocolate. Phone not invited.

That should get you on the right track.

I’d love to hear how you manage your energy through December. And I’ll be sharing my tips for a mum guilt free Christmas very soon.

Please share this with a mum who has a lot on her plate with December.

Much Love,

Leila x