Hey Mom, Don’t Forget About YOU This Holiday Season

The holidays have a way of sneaking up on us, don’t they?
One second we’re carving pumpkins… and suddenly we’re knee-deep in school events, gift lists, travel plans, and a kitchen that looks like a sugar cookie explosion.

And if you’re a mom, you already know how this goes:

Everyone else’s needs somehow float to the top.
The mental load doubles.
And the time you had for yourself quietly slides off the back burner and into the junk drawer with the broken crayons and spare batteries.

But here’s your gentle reminder — the one I tell my BirthFit mamas, my coaching groups, and honestly, myself:

You matter just as much as the people you’re caring for.

And during the holiday chaos, that truth becomes even more important.

Why Making Time for Yourself Matters (Especially Now)

1. Your nervous system deserves a break

The holidays pull you in every direction — emotional, physical, mental.
Your stress bucket fills faster than you realize.

When you take 10 minutes to breathe, walk, stretch, or just sit in silence, you’re not being “selfish.”
You’re giving your nervous system a reset button.
A calmer mama is a more present mama — and you deserve that peace, too.

2. Your body still needs to move

Movement is medicine.
It doesn’t have to be a full workout or the “perfect” session.
It can be:

• A quick stroll while the kids watch a holiday movie
• A few squats and deep breaths in the kitchen
• A quick 10-minute lift before the day gets wild
• A cozy yoga flow in your pajamas

When you move your body, your stress shifts, your mood lifts, and you reconnect with you.
It’s one of the fastest ways to remind your mind and body that you’re still here — not just surviving the season.

3. Your kids don’t need a burnt-out version of you

You don’t have to create a Pinterest holiday.
Kids remember connection, not perfection.

When you take care of yourself — truly take care of yourself — your energy changes.
You laugh a little more.
You show up a little softer.
You enjoy the moments instead of sprinting through them.

That matters more than matching pajamas or the fanciest gingerbread house.

4. You deserve space that’s just for you

Motherhood can make you forget that you’re still a human with your own needs, dreams, and rhythms.

And the holiday season has a way of amplifying that.

Setting aside even the smallest slice of time for yourself is an act of reclaiming your identity.
An act of saying:
I’m still here. I still matter. I get to take up space, too.

So What Does “Me Time” Actually Look Like?

Let’s be honest — nobody is sitting around with extra hours lying around in December.
So let’s keep it simple:

• 3 deep breaths before you get out of the car
• A 10-minute lift or bodyweight flow
• Making your coffee and actually drinking it hot
• Declining one event because rest wins
• Going to bed 20 minutes earlier
• A bath with the door mostly locked
• A walk with your favorite podcast
• Asking for help — even when it feels uncomfortable

Tiny moments add up.
Small rituals keep you grounded.
And giving yourself permission is the hardest — and most important — part.

Mama, This Season You’re Allowed to Choose Yourself Too

Not instead of your family — but alongside them.
You’re part of this holiday, not the machine running it.

So here’s your permission slip:
You’re allowed to rest.
You’re allowed to move your body.
You’re allowed to protect your energy.
You’re allowed to say no.
You’re allowed to have joy that’s yours.

And you’re absolutely allowed to take care of yourself — not after the season is over, but through it.

Because you deserve it.
Because your body needs it.
And because when you show up for yourself, everything else gets just a little bit lighter. You’re doing amazing, mama.
Give yourself some of that love this season, too.

-Coach Alyssa, BirthFit Coach