"When Your Wellness Train Derails: A Realistic Guide to Holiday Self-Care"

It's cold out, the blankets are cozy, and the floor is hard and cold. The air is dry, the work is never-ending, and though it's the season of giving, I feel depleted—unable to give much more.

A train horn whistles in the distance, its echo seeming to cut through the fog, intentionally waking you from your stupor. Or maybe it's just the Thanksgiving food coma finally lifting.

The holidays are supposed to be joyful, but they often feel like a marathon where you're expected to sprint while carrying extra weight.

And worst of all?

That wellness train you've been carefully cultivating all summer—the one with your morning walks, your healthy routines, your commitment to self-care—seems to have completely derailed somewhere between the turkey and the tinsel.

If this sounds familiar, take a breath. You're not alone. And you don't have to choose between enjoying the holidays and taking care of yourself.

Section 1: Why Rest IS a Wellness Practice (Not Laziness)

Here's something our culture doesn't want you to know: rest is productive.

After 25+ years in healthcare, I can tell you what happens when we ignore our body's need for rest.

We get sick.

We burn out.

We make poor decisions.

We snap at the people we love.

Our immune systems weaken right when we need them most.

But there's something deeper happening here, too.

Winter—real winter, the kind nature intended—is a time for slowing down.

Animals hibernate.

Plants go dormant.

Daylight hours shrink, practically begging us to rest more.

Yet somehow, we've decided that December should be our busiest, most productive, most socially demanding month.

We're fighting against our natural rhythms, and then wondering why we're exhausted.

What if, instead of forcing yourself to maintain your summer pace, you honored what your body is actually asking for?

What if rest wasn't something you "earned" only after everything else was done, but a wellness practice in itself?

Section 2: The Permission Slip You've Been Waiting For

So here it is, in writing, official and everything:

You have permission to:

• Skip events that drain you, even if you "should" attend

• Serve store-bought cookies instead of spending hours baking from scratch

• Say "no" without elaborate explanations

• Let some traditions go this year if they feel like burdens

• Rest without guilt

• Have a "good enough" holiday instead of a perfect one

• Prioritize your well-being over other people's expectations

The people who truly care about you want YOU—rested, present, and reasonably sane.

They don't need you to be burned out and resentful while maintaining the appearance of holiday perfection.

Section 3: Realistic Wellness Practices for Busy December

Here's the truth: you probably can't maintain your full summer wellness routine right now. And that's okay.

Instead of abandoning everything or beating yourself up for "falling off track," what if you chose just 2-3 practices to maintain?

Not as punishment, but as anchors—small things that keep you tethered to yourself when everything else feels chaotic.

Here are some options (pick what actually sounds doable, not what sounds impressive):

Morning anchors (choose ONE):

• 5 minutes of stretching before you check your phone

• A full glass of water before coffee

• Three deep breaths while still in bed

• A short walk, even just around the block

Midday reset (choose ONE):

• 10-minute power nap

• Stepping outside for fresh air

• A proper lunch break away from your desk/tasks

• One page of reading something not holiday-related

Evening wind-down (choose ONE):

• No screens for 30 minutes before bed

• Gentle stretching or yoga

• Journaling three things that went okay today (not perfect, just okay)

• A cup of herbal tea in actual quiet

Notice what's NOT on this list: elaborate meal prep, intense workouts, complete overhauls of your routine. This isn't about adding more to your plate. It's about protecting small pockets of peace.

Closing: Your Wellness Train Hasn't Derailed—It's Just Slowing Down

That train horn in the distance?

Maybe it's not signaling a derailment at all.

Maybe it's just the sound of your wellness journey shifting gears—slowing down for the season, taking the curves more carefully, allowing for necessary stops.

Your summer wellness practices will be waiting for you in the spring.

Right now, in the dead of winter and the height of holiday chaos, your job isn't to maintain peak performance.

It's to rest, to be kind to yourself, and to remember that "good enough" is actually pretty wonderful.

The holidays will happen whether you're depleted or rested.

Choose rest.

And if anyone questions it, tell them your healthcare provider (that's me, with 25+ years of experience) prescribed it.