Unwrap the Gift of Balance: How to Take a Mental Health Holiday for the Holidays

It’s Christmas morning. The kids are up before dawn, the living room looks like a wrapping paper tornado hit, and you’ve already stepped on six rogue Legos. Amid the chaos of holiday magic and caffeine-fueled survival, here’s a gentle reminder: Your wellness matters, too.

This year, let’s unwrap the greatest gift you can give yourself—the gift of balance. Because after the frenzy of frantic gift unwrapping and keeping the peace over who got the “better” presents, you deserve more than just a moment to breathe—you deserve a whole strategy to stay sane.

👉🏼 If you're already being pulled away from this to install yet another AAA battery, fret not. We'll be here for you when you get back and all next year too—and even after you step on Legos for the 10th time 🫠.

🎄If you've already skipped ahead to No. 2 😉, then keep on reading to find out how to take a mental health holiday for the holidays...

1. Celebrate Small Wins (Like Surviving the Wrapping Paper Blizzard)

Before you start planning the Pinterest-perfect dinner or negotiating a peace treaty over the last cinnamon roll, take a second to celebrate yourself.

You managed to hide the gifts, wrap them without anyone catching you, and assemble that ridiculously complicated dollhouse at 2 a.m. That’s next-level multitasking, CEO-style.

Take a moment to pat yourself on the back (even if it’s with the same hand holding your fourth cup of coffee).

2. Create Space for Yourself (Even if It’s in the Bathroom)

After the kids finish their sugar-fueled holiday rampage and the in-laws have started their unsolicited kitchen critiques, sneak away for a few precious moments of peace.

Whether it’s a hot shower, hiding in the pantry with the good snacks, or claiming “bathroom time” that mysteriously stretches to 20 minutes, carve out space to recharge.

3. Set Intentions for the New Year (Over Leftover Cookies)

Forget resolutions that feel like punishments (looking at you, “no more carbs”). Instead, focus on what brings you joy and energy.

Write down a few things you want to feel next year—peaceful, accomplished, maybe even...rested? Use this time to focus on goals that are yours, not just what Instagram says you should achieve.

P.S. If your only goal for January is to drink your coffee while it’s hot, you’re already winning 🥳.

4. Be Present, Not Perfect (Even if grandma's infamous Christmas casserole burnt to a crisp)

Let go of the idea that the holiday has to look like a Hallmark movie. (Because honestly, where are these women finding time to bake cookies and solve small-town mysteries?)

This day is about connection, not perfection. So if g-ma's casserole's overcooked or someone forgets to bring the dessert, laugh it off and order pizza. The memories you’ll make are what really matter.

Christmas is chaos, joy, and exhaustion wrapped up in a single day. But amid the whirlwind of bows, cookies, and occasional meltdowns (yours included), don’t forget to take care of yourself.

Because when you give yourself the gift of balance, you’re not just surviving the season—you’re thriving in it. And that’s the best kind of holiday magic.

Workplace Wellness That Actually Works

(Because Your Employees Aren’t Robots… Yet.)

Your team isn’t struggling because they lack skills—they’re drowning in stress, miscommunication, and endless meetings that should have been emails. If you want a high-performing, engaged workforce (with fewer passive-aggressive email chains), it’s time for a smarter approach to workplace wellness.

Solutions That Actually Make a Difference

🚨 For Companies That Need a Full Overhaul

If burnout, inefficiency, and disengagement are your company’s daily reality, Workplace Overhaul is a hands-on, deep-dive intervention designed to fix workplace dysfunction at the root.

📲 Need Something Self-Paced?

For teams that need practical leadership, communication, and stress management tools without a full reset, our On-Demand Workplace Survival Kit offers instant access to sanity-saving strategies—without adding to the workload.

Take the First Step:

✔ Apply for Workplace Overhaul – If your workplace needs a serious transformation, let’s talk.

✔ Get the Workplace Survival Kit – Give your team the tools to work smarter, lead better, and reduce stress today.

👇🏼

Explore Solutions Now

(Because hoping things improve isn’t a strategy.)

About the Author

Phallyn is a corporate veteran turned workplace wellness expert with over a decade of experience in high-pressure environments. Certified in Feng Shui and hypnotherapy, she transformed her own burnout into a career helping businesses build healthier, more effective teams—without outdated corporate fluff. Through humor, honesty, and real-world strategies, she’s here to make work work better.

📧 Stay Connected:

💡 Apply for Workplace Overhaul – See if your company is ready for change.

📲 Get the Workplace Survival Kit – Instant access to stress-proofing, leadership, and productivity strategies.

📩 Subscribe – Get workplace wellness insights (and corporate humor) straight to your inbox.

🔗 Follow on LinkedIn & Facebook – Leadership tips, behind-the-scenes insights, and more.

✨ Work doesn’t have to feel like an endurance test. Let’s change the game—together 🙌🏼.