A Gen Xer's Guide To Surviving The Holidays

TL;DR:

The holidays can be overwhelming, especially when you’re juggling emotional stress, financial pressures, and endless to-dos. This article shares three steps to help you find balance and meaning: focus on what’s within your control, prioritize authentic connections over perfection, and redefine the season with intention. Ready to turn holiday stress into purpose and joy? Start 👇.

Let’s get real: the holidays aren’t all tinsel, twinkling lights, and joyful carols. For many of us—especially Gen Xers juggling financial pressures, family responsibilities, and an ever-growing to-do list—this time of year can feel heavy. Maybe it’s the weight of not being able to give your loved ones everything you’d like. Maybe it’s the uncertainty of the year ahead. Or maybe it’s simply the exhaustion of trying to do too much, for too many, with too little time.

And let’s not forget: the holidays are supposed to mean something, right? They’re supposed to be magical and fulfilling. But what if, for you, they’re just… not?

Here’s the truth: the holidays can be meaningful, but not because they’re perfect. They’re meaningful because you choose to create moments of connection, purpose, and intention in the middle of the chaos. If you’re wrestling with heavy feelings this season, you’re not alone—and you’re not stuck. Here are three ways to find balance, reclaim joy, and make this season meaningful in a way that works for you.

Focus On What’s Within Your Control

When life feels overwhelming, it’s easy to fixate on the things that are outside of our control—our bank account balance, the expectations of others, the sheer number of things on our plate. But here’s the deal: you’ll drive yourself crazy trying to manage what you can’t control. The secret to finding balance is to shift your focus to what is within your power: your time, your energy, and your boundaries.

Here’s My Take: Look, I know what it’s like to feel like there’s not enough to go around. I’ve faced tight financial seasons where I felt like I couldn’t give my family what they deserved. But here’s what I’ve learned: the people who love you don’t need more from you. They need you. Your presence, your kindness, and your effort to show up—that’s what matters most. And that’s something you can control.

What You Can Do Today: Each morning, ask yourself: What’s one thing I can control today that will reduce stress or create meaning? Maybe it’s saying no to something that doesn’t align with your values. Maybe it’s carving out 10 minutes for yourself. Focus on the small, doable things that help you show up more fully.

“Stress is caused by being ‘here’ but wanting to be ‘there.’”

— Steve Chandler

Bring your focus back to the present and let go of the rest.

Create Meaningful Connections Over Perfect Ones

Here’s My Take: A few years ago, I decided to stop chasing perfect holiday moments and focus on what actually matters. Instead of worrying about elaborate gifts, I started writing heartfelt notes to the people I care about. Instead of trying to host a Pinterest-worthy gathering, I invited my friends to a casual potluck. Guess what? Those small, authentic moments left a bigger impact than anything “perfect” ever could.

What You Can Do Today: Choose one person to nurture a connection with this holiday season. It could be sending a thoughtful message, scheduling a coffee date, or simply being fully present when you’re together. Authenticity beats perfection every time.

“What you focus on, you create more of.”

— Jen Sincero

Redefine the Holidays and the Year Ahead with Intention

For many of us, the holidays bring up big questions about the future. What will the new year hold? Am I where I want to be? Will things get better? Instead of letting these thoughts spiral into stress or dread, use this time as an opportunity to reflect, reset, and redefine. This season can be more than a time of stress—it can be a chance to recalibrate and move forward with intention.

Here’s My Take: I’ve learned that when I stop trying to force the holidays to be something they’re not, I create space to focus on what truly matters. For me, that means reflecting on what I want to carry into the new year—and what I’m ready to leave behind. It means asking myself: What do I want this season to feel like? What’s one thing I can do to create that feeling? These questions help me let go of the noise and step into the new year with clarity.

What You Can Do Today: Take 10 minutes to write down your vision for the holidays and the year ahead. What do you want this time to mean? What’s one small action you can take to align with that vision? Let this reflection guide your decisions, and let go of anything that doesn’t fit.

Focus on what you want to create, not what you fear.

The Wrap Up

The holidays aren’t about doing everything—they’re about doing what matters. They’re about showing up for yourself and the people you love, letting go of what you can’t control, and finding moments of connection and meaning in the middle of it all.

So, if this season feels heavy, know this: you’re not alone. And more importantly, you’re not powerless. By focusing on what’s within your control, prioritizing connection over perfection, and stepping into the new year with intention, you can turn the holidays into a season of meaning and balance that works for you.

🎯If you’re ready to create a more meaningful holiday season and step into the new year with clarity and purpose, let’s connect. Book a free 45-minute session with me, and let’s talk about how to realign your priorities, find your balance, and make this season one of growth and connection. The holidays don’t have to be perfect—they just need to matter. Let’s make that happen together.