Finding Calm in the Holiday Chaos: Simple Ways to Slow Down This Week
There’s a point every December where the magic and the madness start to blend together. The calendar fills up, the to-do lists grow longer, the kids get overstimulated, and suddenly it feels like we’re all moving a little too fast. I love this season deeply — the lights, the joy, the traditions, the togetherness — but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t also overwhelming at times.
Some years, I forget to slow down until I feel the exhaustion hit me all at once. Other years, I catch myself wondering if the “magic” I’m trying so hard to create is actually costing me the very joy I’m chasing.
If you’re in that place too — tired, stretched thin, or just craving a breather — this post is for you. Here are a few gentle, simple ways to find calm in the holiday chaos this week.
Start by Taking One Deep, Intentional Breath
Something shifts when I stop and breathe on purpose. It’s small, but it’s powerful. A deep breath pulls me out of the rush and back into my body, reminding me that I don’t have to carry the whole month at once. I can just show up for this moment, right here.
Protect the Quiet Moments (Even Tiny Ones)
Kids are so overstimulated from parties, treats, late nights, and endless excitement. If we feel overwhelmed with fully formed adult brains, imagine how their little bodies must feel. That’s why quiet moments aren’t just nice — they’re necessary. Turn on soft lights. Put on calm music. Snuggle under a blanket. Read a book together. Take five minutes to sit by the Christmas tree with no agenda at all. These small pauses reset the whole house.
Let Go of One Thing on the To-Do List
I’ve learned that holiday magic does not fall apart when something gets crossed off the list — if anything, we all breathe a little easier.
Maybe the cookies don’t get decorated. Maybe the gifts get wrapped… less beautifully than Pinterest suggests. Maybe you skip an event because your family needs rest more than one more activity.
You’re allowed to choose calm over tradition. You’re allowed to say, “Not this year.” You’re allowed to protect your peace.
Build in More Margin Than You Think You Need
One of the kindest things we can give ourselves in December is extra time — for transitions, for meltdowns (ours and theirs), for delays, for the unexpected. When the schedule feels tight, everyone feels it. Adding just a little extra wiggle room makes the whole day lighter. Margin is a gift.
Create One Simple Ritual That Grounds You
A grounding ritual doesn’t have to be fancy or meaningful to anyone but you. For me? This is waking up before the rest of the house and sitting next to the glow of the tree with my morning coffee.
The ritual itself doesn’t matter — the intention behind it does. It gives your days a rhythm and gives your heart a place to land.
Don’t Forget the Magic Already Happening
Sometimes the holiday magic we’re chasing is already happening around us — in the giggles, the chaos, the messy wrapping paper, the slightly lopsided gingerbread cookies, the way our kids’ eyes light up at the smallest things.
Magic isn’t in perfection. It’s in presence.
The holidays were never meant to be one long checklist. They were meant to be felt, not executed. They were meant to bring us closer, not stretch us thinner.
Give Yourself Permission to Slow Down
One of the greatest gifts we can give our families this week is a calmer version of ourselves — one who isn’t trying to do everything, one who chooses connection over perfection, one who remembers that simple moments create the strongest memories.
You don’t need to make every day magical.
You don’t need to fill the week with activities.
You don’t need to prove anything.
Your presence is enough.
Your love is enough.
You are enough.
A Final Thought
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stretched, tired, or emotionally overloaded… you’re not alone. This season is beautiful and heavy all at once, and most of us are carrying far more than we ever say out loud.
So please — take a moment this week to slow down. To breathe. To soften. To choose what matters. To release what doesn’t. To remember that simple magic is the best kind of magic.
And if you need help making celebrations simpler, cozier, and more joyful — Giggle & Glow is always here to bring the sparkle without the stress.
Wishing you a peaceful, gentle, joy-filled week with less chaos and more calm.
