Feel Like a Deflated Balloon After the Holidays? Here’s How to Stop That Cycle

Navigating the Holidays Without Losing Your Sanity (or Yourself)

Let’s get real for a moment: being a small business owner is no walk in the park. We chose this life, no question about it—but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy. And during the holiday season? It’s like someone took our already full plates and decided to stack on a second serving of busyness.

The extra demands of the holidays—whether it’s festive marketing campaigns, end-of-year goals, family commitments, or just remembering to grab a gift for the school Secret Santa—can tip you right over the edge. Suddenly, the season that’s supposed to be about connection and joy becomes the straw that breaks the overworked camel’s back.

There’s a choice to be made here, though.

You can let the holiday chaos push you into one of three unfortunate scenarios:

1. Burnout Breakdown: You’re running so hard you collapse into a puddle of exhaustion, barely making it to New Year’s with a shred of energy left.
2. Missed Moments: You keep hustling through the holidays, watching family moments and laughter pass you by while you’re stuck in your email inbox.
3. The Deflated Balloon: You let go of everything, only to spend weeks in an unproductive daze that leaves you stressed and scrambling come January.

But what if there’s another way?

The Secret to Breaking the Cycle: Recharge

Yes, I said it—recharge. And I’m not talking about the buzzword version of self-care here. You know the one: the “treat yourself” mindset where you schedule a massage or facial and hope it undoes weeks of stress. Spoiler alert: it won’t. Sporadic self-care is just another cog in the burnout machine if you’re not actually refueling your energy daily or weekly.

Instead, I want you to get curious about what truly recharges you. What fills up your cup—not as a one-off treat, but as a consistent practice that keeps your energy flowing all season long?

It might be:

• Dancing in your living room to your favorite playlist.
• Watching silly animal videos (chickens singing, anyone?).
• Sipping your favorite tea in silence before anyone else wakes up.
• A walk outside, even if it’s freezing.
• Laughing so hard at a holiday movie that you cry a little.

Here is my favorite chicken singing video I hope it gives your battery a boost too click here to watch.

 These don’t have to be huge, time-consuming acts. In fact, they shouldn’t be. True recharging comes from small, meaningful rituals that you know will energize you.

Let’s Make It Fun: A Holiday Recharge Scavenger Hunt

If you’re not sure what recharges you, don’t worry—I’ve got you covered. I’ve created a Holiday Recharge Scavenger Hunt to help you explore what brings you joy and energy this season. Think of it as a playful way to rediscover the little things that light you up, even amidst the chaos.

👉🏼 You can download it (along with other fun freebies) right here.

Share Your Wisdom

If you’ve figured out how to navigate the holiday season without running yourself ragged, I want to hear from you! Drop your tips in the comments—this community is all about sharing what works so we can support each other.

For everyone else? Let this be the season you finally break free from the busy-burnout cycle. Start small. Recharge often. And let yourself be present for the memories that truly matter.

You’ve got this. 💛