41: Rest, Recover, Reset: Overcoming Post-Holiday Overwhelm

Today, I'm sharing my personal journey and strategies you can use right now to help you rest, reset, and recover, especially after a busy time like Canadian Thanksgiving, where we quickly shift focus to the Christmas season.

Many of us, myself included, come out of a long weekend feeling fulfilled but also totally exhausted.

We think, "there's too much to do and not enough time," which often leads to pushing harder instead of resting and recovering.

I used to operate this way, pushing through despite being completely spent, thinking others needed me, and I had to get things done. This mindset, I've learned, is a direct path to burnout because we're not paying attention to our own needs.

Now, I anticipate feeling tired after busy times like long holiday weekends. I do a body scan to check my physical and emotional energy levels.

My next step is to make a plan. Our brains love to overwhelm us with a million to-dos, so I write everything down, even small tasks like showering or meal prepping. Then, I prioritize. I learned to tackle the most important, often hardest, tasks first, just like my parents used to say, "homework before play." This gives me a big sense of accomplishment.

Each day, I aim to focus on my top three priorities, and anything beyond that is a bonus. It can cause anxiety to limit myself, but sitting with that feeling helps create a more realistic and sustainable day.

This week, I'm committing to rest and recovery, which means I won't tackle everything on my long to-do list — and that's okay because I'll be more productive in the long run.

As we prepare for the next batch of holidays, including Thanksgiving if you're in the U.S., think about how you want the holidays to feel.

In today's episode, you'll hear some of my practical tools and tips to help you truly rest (plus a marathon running analogy that I think will really bring the point home).

Key Takeaways:

• Offer yourself empathy, accept that you're not always going to be at 100%, and allow yourself to rest and recover without judgement.

• List, prioritize, and plan all your tasks so you can see the top 1-3 essential items to focus on each day.

• Do the hard tasks first to reduce stress and boost your feelings of accomplishment.

• Set realistic expectations for yourself after a busy stretch or a series of life events.

• Don't be afraid to ask others for help (trust them to be honest about their availability).

• Spend some time planning for future busy seasons.

And remember, it's also okay to scale back on your plans, holiday events, and to-dos if they don't truly align with your goals.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Overview: Post-Holiday Exhaustion

00:53 The Overwhelm Cycle

01:37 Recognizing our Need for Rest

05:00 Self-Empathy and Planning

06:22 Prioritizing Tasks During Busy Times

07:50 Managing Expectations and Anxiety

09:03 Planning for the Future

12:55 Family Involvement and Delegation

16:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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