#51 Navigating the Holiday Emotional Hangover
Summary: In this episode, Melanie discusses the concept of the 'holiday emotional hangover' and offers listeners permission to slow down and prioritize self-care during the holiday season. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing emotional clutter and provides a three-step prevention plan to help manage holiday stress and create a more meaningful experience. Key Takeaways: *The holiday emotional hangover can start before the holiday. *Anticipatory stress builds up due to expectations and obligations. *You have permission to do less during the holidays. *It's important to protect your energy and mental space. *Grieving traditions that no longer fit is a valid response. *A clutter-free holiday requires intentional decision-making. *Your 'yes' has value; spend it wisely. *Lighten your load by subtracting tasks and obligations. *You are not responsible for everyone's joy during the holidays. *Prioritize one non-negotiable aspect of self-care this season. Sound bites: "protect your energy" "your yes has value" "lighten the load" Chapters: 00:00 Understanding the Holiday Emotional Hangover 03:23 Permission to Slow Down and Do Less 07:02 Creating a Clutter-Free Holiday Prevention Plan Connect With Melanie: Schedule Your Free Strategy Call: https://calendly.com/melanie-liss-coh... Register for the FREE New Year’s Workshop: Start 2026 Clutter-Free! In this 90-minute Lighten Up! workshop, you’ll learn how to clear the emotional and physical clutter left from 2025, reset routines, quiet mental noise, and build simple systems that bring clarity, confidence, and calm. Whether your clutter is in your closet, your calendar, or your head, you’ll walk away with practical tools and motivation to make 2026 your most intentional year yet. Register Here: https://melaniecohen.podia.com/lighte... Listen to “Lighten Up! The Art of Living Clutter Free!” Podcast Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6t5sp2I... Substack: https://theartoflivingclutterfree.sub... YouTube Playlist: • Lighten Up! The Art Of Living Clutter Free Download Your Free Guide: 50 Questions to Declutter Your Life https://melaniecohen.podia.com/view/d... #holidaystory #emotionalclutter #emotionalhangover #selfcare #slowingdown #holidaystress #stress #mentalclutter #boundaries #joy #traditions #theartoflivingclutterfree #clutterfreeliving #clutterfreeliving #declutteryourmind