I was driving this morning and saw a construction crew tearing up a road they had just finished a few months ago.
I’m talking fresh asphalt.
Smooth. Pretty.
The kind of road that makes you think maybe life is heading in the right direction.
And there they were.
Digging it right back up.
Pipes everywhere.
Now I don’t know a thing about road construction, so I’m sure they had their reasons. Maybe a pipe broke. Maybe something unexpected happened.
But my first thought was, “Wow. Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone talked to each other so we didn’t have to redo a perfectly good road?”
And then I had one of those moments where you laugh at your own thought, because you know you do the same thing in your own life.
I rush.
I jump ahead.
I skip the plan.
And then I end up fixing something I already “finished.”
I did it just the other week.
I rushed through making my cohort slides because I wanted to check it off my list. And guess what happened. I had to redo a chunk of them at the last minute. Middle of the night tweaks. You know the drill.
If you’ve been feeling behind and hoping to reduce holiday stress, this post will help you slow down and make a small shift that changes everything.
So here we are. Watching a road get rebuilt. Feeling tired and a little behind. Wanting the holidays to feel peaceful and joyful. And realizing we can avoid a lot of the stress if we slow down long enough to check the “pipes” first.
A Simple Way to Reduce Holiday Stress Before It Starts
Here are three simple shifts that help prevent the kind of stress we accidentally create for ourselves, especially heading into the holidays.
Where in your life are you “rebuilding the road” because you rushed through the first pass?
Slow Down Before You Speed Up
Slowing down is not dramatic. It’s practical.
When we rush, we miss things. We say yes too quickly. We forget what we needed. Then we end up tearing up our own road because we skipped the step that would have saved us.
Try this today.
Take one small minute and ask yourself:
What actually matters today.
One minute. It keeps you from creating three hours of unnecessary work.
Slowing down for one minute might not sound like much, but it’s one of the simplest ways to reduce holiday stress.
Build Your Plan Before You Build Your Week
You need to know your destination before you can make a plan.
If not, you will wing it.
And winging it is fine for picking out dinner, but not so great for an entire week.
When I skip my weekly preview, I feel it. I lose track. I overcommit. Everything gets heavier. But when I slow down and plan, even for ten minutes, my whole week shifts. Not perfect. Just more peaceful.
Pick a time this week to plan the basics. Nothing fancy.
Think of it as checking the pipes before you lay the asphalt.
When you plan your week before it starts, you reduce holiday stress without even trying, because you’re not scrambling at the last minute
Make Space for What Matters Most
Under that road were pipes carrying something important.
Our lives are no different.
Your “pipes” might be rest. Or joy. Or family connection. Or quiet moments where you can breathe and remember who you are.
Those things matter. And the holidays really can be about joy, peace, and hope, but only if we give those things a spot on the calendar before everything else crowds in.
Choose one thing you want to protect this season.
Put it on the calendar first.
You’re not being selfish. You’re keeping the foundation steady.
Protecting the things that matter most is one of the most practical ways to reduce holiday stress and keep your foundation steady.
These small steps make it much easier to reduce holiday stress and feel more grounded as the season gets busy.
A Smoother Path Into the Holidays
You don’t need a big overhaul.
You don’t need a perfect plan.
You just need a small shift.
A pause before the rush.
A plan for the week.
A priority that anchors everything else.
You deserve a holiday season that supports you, not drains you.
One filled with peace, joy, and the kind of connection that reminds you why this time of year matters.
If you want simple, gentle moments of reflection all December, you can join my free Advent Calendar.
If you’re craving steady support, structure, and calm for the whole year, you can join the waitlist for my Year Program. Doors open on Black Friday.
Quiet confidence.
No pressure.
Just an invitation to walk into the season with more peace and a lot more clarity.
You deserve a season that helps you reduce holiday stress, not add to it.
What is one small change you could make this week that would reduce your holiday stress?
Holiday Planning FAQ
1. What is one simple way to reduce holiday stress?
A: Slow down before the week begins and plan your essentials. Even small steps create a calmer season.
2. How do I stop feeling behind during the holidays?
A: Give yourself five minutes at the start of the day to choose one thing that truly matters. When you stop trying to “do it all” and focus on what matters most, the pressure eases.
3. What should I plan first when everything feels urgent?
A: Start with your “pipes,” the things that keep you steady. Protect rest, connection, or family time first. Once those are in place, everything else gets easier to sort.
4. I want a peaceful holiday, but my schedule feels packed. What can I do?
A: Look for one commitment you can remove or simplify. Even one “no” opens up space for the joy and connection you actually want this season.
5. How can I avoid redoing work or scrambling at the last minute?
A: Do a quick weekly preview. Ten minutes to look ahead, choose priorities, and set a plan can save you hours of last-minute stress and last-second fixes.
If your heart is craving a little more reflection, joy, and intention this season, join my free Advent Calendar. It’s my gift to you for a calmer December.
If you want more support with building a life that feels steady across all your domains, you can read my earlier post on creating rhythms that support your mind, relationships, work, and home.
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