A funny and painfully relatable guide to getting through the holidays with your sanity intact
The holiday season is filled with joy, magic, sparkly lights, and at least three people in your family who will test your entire nervous system in under five minutes. It is a time for celebration, connection, reflection, and avoiding chaos at all costs. If you want to enjoy the season without losing your cool or making 2026 you cringe, here are ten things not to do this holiday season. Consider this your annual reminder to protect your peace, preserve your patience, and keep your stress level under control before you start muttering to yourself in the corner like a holiday movie extra.
- Do not wait until the last minute for anything
This includes shopping, cooking, packing, mailing gifts, sending cards, or figuring out who is hosting. Last minute holiday prep will have you in a crowded store at 11:47 PM clutching the last questionable gift set that smells like lavender mixed with regret. Plan ahead so you can breathe like a normal human when the big day arrives. - Do not say yes to everything
Somehow the holidays trick us into thinking we have unlimited time and emotional bandwidth. Spoiler alert: we do not. You do not need to attend every dinner, every party, every ugly sweater gathering, every Secret Santa exchange, or every group chat call with cousins you have not seen since 2014. Choose your yes moments wisely. Let your “NO” be strong and drama free. - Do not start a debate with that one family member
You already know who it is. The one who brings up politics, parenting, diets, dating, or whether you are living up to your full potential as if this is a performance review. Smile. Sip your drink. Redirect the conversation to something neutral like weather or cookies. Keep the peace and avoid turning the holiday dinner into a live taping of a reality TV reunion. - Do not feel pressured to give expensive gifts
Repeat after me: thoughtful beats pricey every time. You do not need to go into debt trying to prove your love through items that will end up in a drawer by February. Give within your means. Give with intention. And if all else fails, give snacks because snacks make everything better. - Do not forget to rest
The holiday season has a sneaky way of pretending to be a marathon disguised as a sprint. Between travel, gatherings, cooking, cleaning, traditions, and emotional management, your body needs actual rest. Real rest. Not scrolling on your phone in bed while stressing about the next day. Schedule downtime the way you schedule holiday events. Protect your energy like it is the last piece of pie. - Do not compare your holiday to anyone else’s
Stop letting social media convince you that everyone else is living inside a perfectly lit Hallmark movie. People post their highlight reels, not their meltdowns over burnt cookies or the argument they had in the car before arriving at grandma’s house. Your holiday does not have to be perfect. It just needs to be real and full of whatever joy you can create. - Do not ignore your budget
Holiday budgeting is not optional unless you want to start January crying into your bank account. Make a plan for spending and stick to it. Gifts, food, travel, decor, and that last minute self care purchase that you absolutely deserve can all add up quickly. Be intentional. Your future self will thank you for keeping your finances sane. - Do not try to please everyone
Trying to satisfy every single person during the holidays is a first class ticket to frustration. Someone will not like the menu. Someone will question the decorations. Someone will have feelings about who got invited or not invited. Let it go. You are not Santa. You cannot serve every need. Focus on what is reasonable and let everyone else manage their own emotions. - Do not forget to create moments for yourself
The holiday season is full of traditions for everyone else, but what about you? Make time for your personal rituals too. Drink your favorite tea. Read a book. Go for a walk. Watch the same cheesy movie you love every year. Light the good candle this time. Fill your cup so you can enjoy the season instead of simply surviving it. - Do not expect perfection from yourself
There will be spills. There will be delays. Something will burn. Someone will be late. Someone will forget something important. And you know what? It will still be fine. The holidays are not about achieving Pinterest level perfection. They are about connection, laughter, and creating memories that feel like joy, not pressure.
The holidays can be magical, but they can also be a little chaotic. The key is remembering that you do not have to do everything, and you definitely do not have to do it perfectly. Keep your boundaries strong, your expectations realistic, and your humor ready for action.
If you can avoid these ten things, you will glide through the holiday season with more peace, more joy, and far fewer stress-induced cookie binges. And honestly, that is the gift that keeps on giving.
Let the season be joyful, not exhausting. Let it be warm, not overwhelming. And above all, let it be real. Happy holidays! 🎄✨
