Leading Through the Holidays
(Without Losing Yourself)
The holidays have a way of testing even the most grounded leaders.
Between wrapping up projects, wrapping actual presents, and managing everyone’s expectations (including your own), it’s easy to forget that you’re a person — not an event planner for the universe.
So before you start color-coding calendars or diffusing peppermint oil like it’s holy water, take a breath. You’re allowed to lead this season differently.
The myth of “showing up for everyone”
Somewhere along the way, many of us learned that love looks like saying yes — to every gathering, every request, every end-of-year task.
We confuse generosity with overextension.
We confuse presence with performance.
And we end up giving from fumes instead of fullness.
But real leadership — in work and in life — starts with self-leadership.
If you lose yourself trying to hold everything together, no one actually gets the best of you.
Leadership at home (and everywhere else)
Maybe you’re the one everyone counts on — at work, at home, in your friend group. You keep things running, people fed, emotions soothed. You’re the steady one.
But steady doesn’t mean self-sacrificing.
You can hold space for others without holding everything. You can be caring without being consumed. And yes — you can say no, even when you could technically say yes.
Boundaries aren’t barriers. They’re bridges back to yourself.
Three ways to lead through the holidays with heart
Schedule stillness first.
Before you plan the parties and deadlines, block time for rest. Even one unclaimed morning or quiet evening can reset your nervous system.Redefine “enough.”
Enough doesn’t mean perfect. Enough means present. Decide now what “enough” looks like — gifts, events, effort — and let the rest go.Choose presence over performance.
Instead of trying to make everyone happy, ask, “How can I make this meaningful?” Connection lasts longer than perfection.
The truth about peace
Peace doesn’t arrive wrapped in silence and candles. (Though both help.)
It comes from alignment — when your choices reflect your values, not your obligations.
For me, that means quieter gatherings, smaller circles, and saying yes to things that feel like joy, not duty.
Every year, I try to remember: I’m not here to manage the holidays.
I’m here to experience them — fully, freely, with my whole heart intact.
This week, take five minutes and reflect:
“What does peace look like for me this holiday season — and what boundary will help me protect it?”
Write it down. Speak it aloud. Make it real.
Because the holidays don’t have to hollow you out.
You’re allowed to lead gently — and let the world spin without your supervision.
Share this post with someone who needs permission to slow down. And if you’ve already picked your “holiday boundary,” tell me in the comments — you might inspire someone else to find theirs.
