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Savannah Scott Romcom Author

How to Avoid Holiday Burnout This Year

November 20, 2018 By Patty 2 Comments

20 Nov

Believe it or not, we are in the thick of it.  The holiday season snuck up and then sprung out of nowhere this year.  On one hand, like you, I cherish November and December – the traditions, time with family, a deeper focus on Jesus and gratitude.  On the other hand, I dread the work, the extra travel, the dent in our budget, and all the extras which can pile onto an already full life during these months.  The result? Holiday Burnout.

Yesterday, as I pulled into a very full parking lot to get lunch with my son, the woman parked next to me struggled to get her kids out of the car.  I stepped out, apologizing in case I caused the slim space between our vehicles.  She graciously said, “No, it’s these spots.  They are so small, and of course, we have to buy these gigantic cars!” 

Then, she suddenly said, “I know you!  You spoke to the moms’ group at our church.  I’m reading your book and loving it! {silent squeal inside my heart} It’s helping me say ‘no’ more often.”  Her daughter (maybe six years old) said, “No, mommy! You already say lots of no!” We laughed and then I said, “Not those kinds of no answers, the kind that helps your mom set aside more time for what’s important, like spending time with you.”

She beamed as kids always do when they find out they will get more time with mom or dad.

our children are blessed as we say no to holiday burnout

The Price of Saying No

No answers seem to come with higher price tags this time of year.  Expectations grow thicker than Aunt Barbara’s gelatin salad.  Invitations sometimes abound, leaving us feeling breathless as we mindlessly add more things into our weeks.  Any other time of year we consider our time more carefully.  Come November, we often assume an impacted schedule comes with the territory.  It doesn’t have to.  

When you add up special recitals at schools, extra holiday parties for work, church, and friendship gatherings, trips to see family and all the shopping, wrapping, and cooking we do during these coming months, no wonder we can end up feeling holiday burnout!  

What can we do to avoid holiday burnout?  

I have a few ideas that I’m putting in place in my own life to avoid holiday burnout.  Hopefully, they will help you too.  

Plan ahead. 

Look at the coming six weeks.  If you need to, make a grid on your computer or lay out a piece of paper or a calendar.  Write in all the things you already have going on.  On another page, write the opportunities and invitations you know will be coming.  Next to each one write what preparations and “aftermath” you will have.   Count the cost for each activity.  Once you have all the details on paper, see what reasonably fits into your schedule. 

Cut back. 

Lysa TerKeurst shares a story in her book, The Best Yes, about buying a new shirt.  The upshot is, she has to throw things out of the closet to make room for more.  Our time is like a closet.  We can’t keep cramming things in hoping they will fit without breaking the rods and making a mess of things.  If you are going to add in extra events, something’s gotta give.  What will it be?

photo courtesy of noeme jimenez

Sometimes less is more.   

Are there places where you could buy a pie instead of baking one?  Can you share a task with a friend (like baking cookies together, shopping for one another, etc)?  Can you show up for half an event instead of all of it?  Look at places you can do less in order to enjoy more.  

Build in Rest. 

On my recent trip to Texas, we were on a whirlwind, going from town to town, speaking, signing books, teaching, and connecting with people.  I purposely kept times open so we could sleep in several of the days, take walks, linger with people, and recuperate from the go-go-go of the trip.  If we don’t build in rest, no one will do it for us.  When you look at your calendar, be sure to plan in some margin and rest so you don’t end up with holiday burnout.  

holiday burnout starts in the fall

photo courtesy of mariana medvedeva

Lower your expectations. 

Being with family around the holidays can stir old emotions and even spark discord.  Just because it tis the season, doesn’t mean all is merry and bright.  Don’t set yourself up for disappointment.  Stress hits everyone over the holidays.  Give yourself and others an extra bucket of grace.  


I hope these tips help you go through the coming months with more joy and peace.  If you want to hear more encouragement and be within a group of moms who are supporting one another as we love intentionally and make room for what matters most, we’d love to have you in The Intentional Motherhood Community.  

Want more practical and personal help finding your purpose and managing your time?  My book, Slow Down, Mama: Intentional Living in a Hurried World is available on Amazon.  It makes a great Christmas gift for a busy mom.  

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Filed Under: Parenting, Time Management

About Patty

I write to encourage your heart, feed your soul, and give you wisdom for your life. Motherhood is my passion. I've been married to my surfer/skater husband for over 20 years.  We have two boys and a home full of neighbor kids most days.

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Comments

  1. Dawn Jones says

    November 21, 2018 at 8:34 AM

    I really needed to read this today as I enjoy a brief pause between holiday whirlwinds. As always, thank you for sharing your wisdom and practical tips to help us all slow down and enjoy what matters most. I hope your Thanksgiving is filled with blessings!

    Reply
    • Patty says

      November 21, 2018 at 8:39 AM

      Thank you, Dawn! We sure wish you and your sweet family a wonderful Thanksgiving and Advent filled with rest, joy, and meaningful connection.

      Reply

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Ahhhh … enemies to more. 🔥 The banter is so f Ahhhh … enemies to more. 🔥
The banter is so fun!

Chris and Ella Mae start out getting on one another’s nerves … then, due to completely unexpected circumstances, they end up fake dating … and then they drive one another crazy in a whole different sense of the phrase 😉🥰

Ripped & Shipped comes out early May. I’m about 🤏 close to finishing it and sending it to my editor.

ARC Team sign ups will be coming for ebooks on Saturday (Apr 1). Paperback team is already selected and will be getting a welcome email by this weekend. 

We are going to have so much fun launching this book! I can’t even tell you the feelings I have … wrapping up this first Bordeaux series, writing this story that’s full of heart, and laughs, and kisses that make you grab a glass of ice water and fan yourself. 🔥😘🧊💦🫠

I’m so grateful you’re along for the ride. There aren’t words for the sweetness of sharing the Getting Shipped series with you. 💕

(And I’ve been loosely plotting the next series and getting excited as I start writing the Love Trippin’ books.) 💕

Do you love enemies to lovers?
Fake dating? 
Let me know … 

#wipwednesday #workinprogress #amwritingromance #amwritingromcom
#romcombooks #sweetromcom #closeddoorromance #closeddoorromcom
#savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #bordeauxohio #bordeauxohioforever #newrelease #gettingshipped #gettingshippedseries #lovestories #rippedandshipped #chellamaebae #rippedandshippedbook #bookstagrammers #bookstagram #romcom #romancereadersofinstagram #romcomreadersofinstagram #bookexcerpt #shippers #Imashipper #Smalltownromance #ohiolove #smalltownromancebooks
Okay. So. Yes, we are still waiting for Ripped & Okay. So. 
Yes, we are still waiting for Ripped & Shipped to come out and be in your happy little hands on May 1st. 

But, authors are always (usually) a book ahead of the readers. 

And, this time, I’m a whole series ahead. 

I’m thinking about “Are We There Yet?” It’s the first book in the Love Trippin’ series. 

Four people from Bordeaux (yes!!) are traveling to California where the next series takes place. 

This first book takes place over a road trip (after a few chapters in Bordeaux, and before the later chapters in Cali).

So, I want to plan this road trip!
Im a road-tripper, and I grew up spending summers traveling from state to state with my family. 

I know my road trip stories. 
I want to hear YOURS! 
Leave it in the comments or DM me. 🚗🌳🚧🏔️

I’m not going to use your exact story, of course. But, if your story inspires something in the book, I’ll send you a free sticker and bookmark when “Are We There Yet” releases this summer. 

I’m so excited to share this new series with you!

#lovetrippin #lovetrippinseries #savannahscottauthor #savannahscott #romcombooks #sweetromcom #sweetromance #closeddoorromance #closeddoorromcom #romcombooksaremyweakness #romcomreadersofinstagram #romancereadersofinstagram #bookstagram #roadtrippin #roadtripromance #roadtrippin #arewethereyet #arewethereyetbook
Writing retreat A few days on the central coast. Writing retreat 

A few days on the central coast. 

Views. 
Good food. 
Sweet conversation 
Getting so close to finishing Ripped & Shipped. 

Dreaming about the next series. 
Thinking about how to bless moms and women 

#writingretreat #amwriting #amwritingromance #amwritingromcom #romcomauthor #romcomreadersofinstagram #romancereadersofinstagram #bookstagram #sweetromcom #closeddoorromcom #savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #gettingshipped #gettingshippedseries #cambriacalifornia #centralcoast #slocounty #moonstonebeach
Would the Rob & Laura fans raise your hands? 🙋🏼‍♀️

My husband and I are listening to the audiobook of Battleshipped together right now. It takes us forever because: life. But, it’s been fun to revisit their story. 

If you love a slightly geeky leading man, a strong female lead with a loyal heart and a persevering spirit, Battleshipped is for you. 

If you love second chance romcom with a dash of enemies to more, Battleshipped has all the “working hard to win her heart back” vibes. 

If you love laughing out loud until people look at you funny while you read. Yeah. There are those scenes. 

If you love a found-family friend group, and a quirky small town that will win your heart, come to Bordeaux. 

QOTD: Do you love when a brainy male lead becomes your book boyfriend? Which brainy male characters have stolen your heart? 

#battleshipped #battleshippedbook #bookexcerpt #gettingshipped #gettingshippedseries #savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #smalltownromancebooks #sweetromcom #closeddoorromcom #secondchanceromance #goatsgoatsgoats #bordeauxohio #bookboyfriend #romancereadersofinstagram #romcomreadersofinstagram #ohiolove #bookstagram #bookstagrammers
Is it Wednesday? Um no. No it is not. But, do y Is it Wednesday? 
Um no. No it is not. 

But, do you still want this #WIPWednesday teaser from Ripped & Shipped? Why yes, yes you do. 

I’ll tell y’all. This book is coming along. And it is scrum-diddly-umptious. 

We’re talking banterrrrrr!
And all the swoony enemy vibes. 

And then they start faking! 
What? yasssss. They fake. The enemies start to fake a romance. 

Then … a completely unexpected and sweeeet friendship develops. 

But, ruh-roh. One of them catches feelings (just quoting Duke here). 

And it gets so HOT ( in a very closed-door way) and so HEARTFELT. 

This story is special. It’s the last in Bordeaux. So I’m pouring it all out into this book. 

You’ve got Memaw, Esther, and Mabel. 
The Bordeaux friend group. 
Lulabelle 
Ella Mae
Cooter
And so much more. 

I’m not kidding when I say this may be my fave in series. 

And you know what it means when I say I’m about 3/4 done writing? Yep. I just might release this story in May … ARC Team wannabes, lace up your running shoes. I’ll be posting opportunities to join the few open spots the first week of April. ❤️

Wait til you see the cover, too. Gah. I love it!! 

#rippedandshipped #workinprogress #amwriting
#amwritingromance #amwritingromcom
#romcombooks #sweetromance #sweetromcom
#closeddoorromance #closeddoorromcom
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#romcomreadersofinstagram #bookexcerpt
Heyyyyy ARC Team! If you were on the ARC team fo Heyyyyy ARC Team! 

If you were on the ARC team for Cruiseshipped, our exclusive ARC Team only book chat is coming!

Tomorrow (Thursday March 23) at 5p PT we’ll be gathering on zoom to talk about Cruiseshipped. 

I’m so grateful to each one of you for reading, sharing, and reviewing Cruiseshipped. ❤️ 

So … mark your calendars and set your alarms (and a countdown is in my stories!) and let’s talk all things Brooks + Gabby ❤️🚢💃🏻

#cruiseshipped #cruiseshippedbook #savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #gettingshipped #gettingshippedseries #arcteamperks #bookchat #buddyread #ilovemyreaders #authorchat
Well, I’m back with another #mememonday and this Well, I’m back with another #mememonday and this one is featuring one of my favorite movies EVER: The Princess Bride!

Which slide do you like best? 

And … aside from posting here today, I’m writing! Ripped & Shipped (Chris’ story) is halfway done! 

I’m on a roll now, and my family is going to an amusement park for the day (without me), so I’m alone with Bella and my laptop. 

Then, this weekend, I’ve got a writing retreat. The final book in the Getting Shipped series is going to be written! 

Not saying we won’t have some novellas down the road … mayyyybe we could. (Who would you want to see in a Getting Shipped novella?)

I hope your Monday is GREAT!!

#bookmemes #bookishmemes #princessbride #asyouwish #amwriting #amwritingromcom #romcomauthor #sweetromcom #closeddoorromcom #romancereadersofinstagram #romcomreadersofinstagram #savannahscottauthor #gettingshipped #rippedandshipped #gettingshippedseries
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