Boycotting Busyness: Reclaiming Balance During the Holidays
The holiday season often arrives with a message: be busy, be everywhere, say yes to everything. There’s a cultural expectation that a packed schedule reflects success, joy, or belonging. But constant motion can also bring stress, anxiety, or disconnection from what truly matters.
Despite the cheerful messaging that this is “the most wonderful time of the year,” many people experience the opposite. We’re overwhelmed, stretched thin, or stuck in comparison. Busyness has become a badge of honor… even when it leaves us burned out.
If you find yourself craving a calmer, more intentional season, you’re not alone. Choosing balance, especially now, is a powerful act of care.
Refuse the rush, cherish small pauses, and let your purposeful to-do list fuel joy and ease.
Why We Feel Pressure to Stay Busy
The holidays often come with unspoken rules:
say yes to every invitation, buy the perfect gifts, keep the traditions alive, make it look effortless.
But beneath these expectations, many people feel tension or guilt when slowing down. Productivity is often reinforced as proof of personal worth. That thought can become deeply ingrained.
Busyness can feel comfortable because:
It distracts from difficult emotions
It reinforces a sense of importance or belonging
It mirrors what everyone else seems to be doing
Yet exhaustion is not a requirement for a meaningful life.
It is okay if you don’t want chaos this season.
It is okay if you need more rest, simplicity, or quiet connection.
It is okay if you create holidays that look different than what others expect.
Your well-being matters too.
What It Means to Boycott Busyness
Boycotting busyness isn’t about opting out of joy.
It’s about opting out of overwhelm.
This can look like:
Checking in with your body before saying yes to plans
Allowing yourself to decline invitations without explanation
Creating routines that support calm instead of chaos
Choosing one meaningful activity over five stressful ones
Acknowledging that “good enough” is still good
Recently, a friend asked if I was having the typical “crazy busy end of year.”
My response was simple:
“No. It’s a normal level of busy, and I planned for it to slow down.”
There was relief in saying it… and truth in knowing I meant it.
Intentional Yes, Liberating No
A “no” can protect your peace.
A “yes” can feel purposeful again.
You might:
Leave space for rest on your calendar
Buy fewer gifts (or create handmade ones filled with intention)
Spend time with the people who help you feel grounded
Release traditions that no longer fit your life
This year, I chose to weave gifts for the adults in my family.
The repetitive motion calmed my nervous system, lowered stress, and allowed presence.
Even before gifting them, I experienced something healing.
Sometimes the gift isn’t the object…
it’s the way you feel while creating it.
Supporting Your Nervous System
Slowing down isn’t just a mindset shift —
it’s a physiological one.
A few grounding practices that help reduce holiday stress:
Take mindful pauses before responding to invitations
Notice your breath and lengthen your exhales
Incorporate creative activities that promote flow and calm
Schedule downtime as intentionally as you schedule events
Prioritize sleep, nourishment, and movement
When your body feels safe, joy can return naturally.
Art Therapy Reflection Prompt
Creating a Season of Enough + Joy
The holidays often invite us into busy schedules, expectations, and pressure to do more.
But what if we paused and asked:
What does “enough” look like for me this season?
What does “joy” feel like for me — and how do I know when I’m experiencing it?
A Creative Reflection Practice
Create a small piece of art using repetitive, soothing marks (weaving, stitching, doodling, or working with clay).
Let each mark be a moment of grounding as you reflect on:
Where can I gently say no?
What truly deserves my yes?
How can I shape a season that supports my well-being?
What color represents joy to me?
As you create, also explore your sensory memories of joy:
What smells, sounds, sights, tastes, or textures spark nostalgia in a comforting way?
How can I intentionally plan moments to experience those?
Maybe it’s holiday lights, hot chocolate, candy canes, and laughter with the people you love.
For me, the simple act of looking at lights with my girls, fully present and joyful, is a memory they will carry in their hearts. The energy we show up with becomes the priceless gift they remember.
Aligning With What Matters
Are you aligning this season with your values, or letting it rush by while you’re just a passenger in your own life?
Are you staying so busy helping others that your own needs never make the list?
If authenticity is one of your values (like it is for me) then spaces like Al-Anon, AA, or other support groups can feel refreshingly honest, especially during the holidays. There’s no need for pretenses. Just people showing up real. And sometimes that’s the greatest relief of all.
Let your hands slow your mind.
Let art guide you back to yourself.
About the Author
Jessica Rodriguez, MA, MAT, ATR-P, registered LCAS
Art Therapist • Addiction Specialist • Career Counseling
Create a Life You Love
(Creativity is inclusive to all cultures. It is our first and universal language.)
If you’re seeking support in:
Reducing stress and overwhelm
Strengthening relationships
Navigating career transitions or finding purpose
Building healthier emotional habits
I offer art therapy for individuals and couples.
To reach out, visit the contact page.
Embrace life transitions, discover purpose, and navigate change with the support of Ineo Counseling.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice. If you require assistance or are experiencing mental health concerns, please seek guidance from a qualified mental health professional.
