The Pre-Christmas Trap We Don’t Talk About 🤍

Dear lovely one,

As we move closer to Christmas, I wanted to pause and speak honestly for a moment.

This time of year has a strange way of pulling us into a quiet frenzy. It rarely looks like stress on the surface — instead it sparkles. Prosecco flows, diaries fill up, invitations stack up, and somehow we’re expected to keep smiling through it all. It’s astonishing how easily we fall into the pre-Christmas mad rush. And that’s the trap.

Because beneath the festive glow sits pressure. Pressure to attend every party. Pressure to be present, productive, sociable, generous, organised, successful — all at the same time. Work deadlines don’t disappear. Daily life doesn’t pause. Family dynamics still exist. And yet, we add Christmas dinners, gift lists, outfits, social calendars, and forced cheer on top of it all.

No wonder so many of us feel close to a mental breakdown by the time the holidays arrive.

Sometimes I wonder — is all of this really needed? Or have we learnt to equate being busy and socially visible with being validated?

Is it tradition — or comparison? Is it joy — or performance? Sometimes it feels like an unspoken social competition. But does documenting how busy, loved, or socially validated we appear actually nourish us? Or does it quietly drain us?

What if we allowed this season to be what it naturally is?

A darker, quieter time.A time to slow down. To find comfort rather than stimulation. To light a candle, sit with reflection, and honour rest, stillness, and reset.

And yes — to move. But gently.

Gyms might feel heavy right now. High-energy classes might feel like too much. And that’s okay.

It’s okay to slow down. It’s okay to choose ease. It’s okay to move mindfully rather than push relentlessly.

Because move we must — but we must also listen. To our bodies. To our nervous systems. To that inner voice asking us not to crash and burn, but to arrive in the new year replenished, not exhausted.

This season doesn’t ask us to do more. It asks us to be more gentle.

And that might be the most powerful choice of all.

Personally, I’ve always loved reconnection in the new year. There’s something deeply nourishing about meeting friends after family time — when the pace is slower, intentions are clearer, and energy feels more honest.

So perhaps the best present you can give yourself this Christmas is no pressure. Just presence.

Wishing you gentleness,

Simona 🤍