5 Morning Rituals to Beat the Holiday Burnout
For most of the year, mornings are fine. You wake up, scroll a little, maybe grab a coffee and go. But December? Suddenly, there’s a mental checklist before your eyes even open. Did I get a gift for my cousin? Do I really have to go to that work thing? Why is my calendar so chaotic?
The holidays are supposed to be magical, but magic doesn’t run on autopilot; it runs on energy. And if you’re running on fumes, no amount of peppermint lattes or espresso martinis is going to fix that.
So this year, instead of focusing on productivity, focus on protecting your energy. These morning rituals aren’t about “optimizing your life”, they’re about starting your day in a way that actually feels good.
Airplane Mode Morning
Before you open your phone and start doomscrolling your notifications, just... don’t. Give yourself 15 minutes to be a person before you become a participant in the chaos. Brush your teeth, stretch, make your bed, stare out the window…whatever. Just exist offline for a second. You’ll be amazed at how much calmer the day feels when you start on your own terms.
Scroll Differently
Ok, ok, ok (I can sense the eye rolls on the previous ritual), if you MUST grab your phone, make it intentional. Instead of opening an email or Instagram, open your camera roll. Revisit a few moments from the year that made you laugh, or smile, or breathe easier. Remember what’s gone right before diving into what’s next.
Hydrate Before You Caffeinate
Look, I know. You’ve heard this a thousand times. But hear me out! I don’t know if it’s just me, but it’s the easiest step to forget when mornings are bogged down with to-dos. Water first thing in the morning hits different.
Drink it slowly, not as a chore but like you actually care about yourself. Warm it up, add lemon, pour it into your favorite mug, whatever makes it feel like a tiny act of self-care before the caffeine chaos begins.
The “One Thing” Rule
If your to-do list is giving anxiety, scale it back. Write down one thing that matters today, just one. Maybe it’s wrapping gifts, maybe it’s finishing that email, maybe it’s taking a nap. If you get that one thing done, you’ve done enough. You’re not lazy, you’re prioritizing sanity.
Move a Little…or a lot.
You don’t need to crush a workout to feel good. Play one song and dance while your coffee brews. Stretch your arms and back before you sit down. Go outside and breathe real air. Movement doesn’t have to mean reps or routines; sometimes it just means remembering you have a body, not just a brain on a deadline.
The Takeaway
You don’t have to do all five. Just start with one. Protect your mornings as if they’re sacred, because they are. When you start your day with intention instead of panic, everything else starts to fall into place.
You’ve made it through a whole year. That’s enough to celebrate on its own.
