The 'Fit Fab Mom' Holiday Manifesto: 10 Ways to Stay Sane & Joyful This Season

We’re the ones ordering the gifts, tracking the packages, planning the outfits, baking the cookies, writing the cards, and remembering to move the elf (if you’ve fallen into that trap, solidarity, sister).

We are the CEOs of Christmas, and frankly, as much as it can be fun and rewarding, it’s exhausting.

We love the magic, but we often burn ourselves out creating it for everyone else. This year, I’m proposing something radical. A manifesto. A set of permissions to not only survive the holidays but to actually enjoy them, too.

This is the year we put ourselves back on the list.

The ‘Fit Fab Mom’ Holiday ‘Me-Time’ Manifesto

1. I give myself permission to say “No.” No to the potluck I don’t have time for. No to the extra party. No to a tradition that no longer brings me joy. “No” is not a bad word; it’s a boundary. And it’s the first step to saying “yes” to your own sanity.

2. I give myself permission to buy the cookies. Your kids will not be emotionally scarred because you bought store-bought gingerbread. I promise. This is the season of “good enough.” If baking brings you joy, do it! If it’s just another box to check, buy the cookies. Or the pie. Or the pre-made veggie platter.

3. I give myself permission to schedule “me-time” in my actual calendar. “I’ll relax when I have time” is a fantasy. Treat your “me-time” like a doctor’s appointment. Schedule “15 Min: Coffee Alone” or “30 Min: Walk” or “1 Hour: Go to a store by myself.” Write it in pen. It’s not optional; it’s essential.

4. I give myself permission to ask for (and accept) specific help. Don’t wait for your partner, family, or friends to “just know” what you need. “I’m feeling overwhelmed” is a feeling. “Can you please be in charge of wrapping all the gifts for your side of the family?” is a plan. Be specific, and don’t feel guilty about it.

5. I give myself permission to move my body (or not). As a “fit” mom, sometimes the pressure to get in that workout is just one more stressor. Listen to your body. Does it need a 20-minute HIIT session to burn off stress? Great. Does it need a 20-minute nap? Also great. “Wellness” is also about rest.

6. I give myself permission to lower my expectations. The perfect, curated, Instagram-worthy holiday does not exist. It’s a filter. Your kids won’t remember if the bows were perfect. They will remember you being present, laughing, and eating cookies with them. Let’s aim for present, not perfect.

7. I give myself permission to not be the 24/7 entertainment director. This is a hard one, but it’s a game-changer. It is not our job to fill every second of our kids’ holiday break with a magical, Pinterest-worthy activity.

Sometimes, I’ll just go sit on my porch swing for a breather or go up to my room to read for 30-40 minutes. When I come back, they’ve built a massive pillow fort, made a huge pile of drawings, or constructed a statue out of cardboard boxes.

Not having 24/7 entertainment is good for them. Boredom is where creativity is born. Let them be bored. Go read your book.

8. I give myself permission to spend money on myself. How many of us finish our holiday shopping and realize we’re the only ones who didn’t get anything? Buy yourself the new running shoes, the nice bottle of wine, or that skincare you’ve been wanting. You are just as deserving of a gift.

9. I give myself permission to be in the photos. Stop being the family’s historian and hand the camera over. Get in the frame, messy bun and all. Your kids will want to see you in their memories one day, not just the perfect pictures you took of them. I know you can rock a great photo, mama!

10. I give myself permission to have a ‘do-nothing’ day. One day this holiday season, I will plan… nothing. We will stay in our pajamas, maybe sleep in, eat leftovers or order in, and watch movies. The “magic” of that day will be the complete absence of a to-do list. That sounds oh-so magical…

This season, the best gift we can give our families is a mom who is happy, present, and rested… not a mom who is one broken ornament away from a total breakdown. Your kids will remember the memories they make with YOU not how well the house was decorated or what was on the menu on christmas.