817. A Holiday You Don’t Have to Perform For: Choosing Ease, Joy & Presence

Nov 18, 2025

Discover how to transform your holiday season into a time of joy and presence. Learn to set strong boundaries with social media and prioritize self-care over performative celebrations. Get practical tips for managing family dynamics and scheduling downtime to avoid burnout. Embrace simple rituals to enhance connections and foster meaningful moments. Lindsey shares strategies for rebranding your holidays to reflect your true needs, focusing on connection rather than consumerism for a truly fulfilling season.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Aura Frame Became A Family Tradition

Lindsey shares that an Aura Frame became a cherished family tradition and helps her son recognize relatives.
She preloads frames with photos so gifts arrive full of memories and stay updated all year.

ADVICE

Don't Post Holiday Moments In Real Time

Do avoid posting personal holiday moments in real time to protect presence and safety.
Save photos and share later so you stay present and avoid revealing locations or private details.

INSIGHT

Performing Joy Undercuts Real Presence

Lindsey observes that performing happiness for others pulls you out of actually living your life.
Chasing curated holiday moments can cause exhaustion and disconnection rather than joy.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Ready to transform your holiday season? In this episode, Lindsey dives deep into conscious holiday planning and upholding personal boundaries. If you're overwhelmed by seasonal pressure or the quest for picture-perfect moments, this episode is your guide to mindful celebrations.

Ahead, discover practical strategies for thriving as the year wraps up—from social media boundaries to nourishing your body + mental health. Lindsey shares real-life rituals + self-care tips that will help you ditch performance mode + create holiday moments that truly fill your cup.

Learn the secrets to managing family dynamics, syncing calendars with partners, and making space for meaningful rest + reflection. If you want more joy, connection, and intention this December (and beyond!), this episode will inspire you to rebrand your holidays forever.

We also talk about:

Setting strong social media boundaries
Why Lindsey never posts in real time
Releasing the pressure to perform during the holidays
Prioritizing rest, hydration, and truly nourishing experiences
Mental load mapping + delegating holiday responsibilities
Planning ahead with your partner for drama-free holidays
Scheduling recovery days post-travel for real downtime
Anchoring yourself with rituals + sensory practices
Navigating family + friendship dynamics with boundaries
“Holiday Huddles” for staying connected with loved ones
Why connection is your greatest asset for happiness

Resources:

Instagram: @lindseysimcik

Order our book, Almost 30: A Definitive Guide To A Life You Love For The Next Decade and Beyond, here: https://bit.ly/Almost30Book.

Sponsors:

Puori | Visit https://Puori.com/ALMOST30 and use our promo code ALMOST30 for 20% off.

Aura Frames | Visit AuraFrames.com and get $45 off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames by using promo code ALMOST30 at checkout.

SKIMS | Shop my favorite bras and underwear at SKIMS.com/almost30.

Hero Bread | Hero Bread is offering 10% off your order. Go to hero.co and use code ALMOST30 at checkout.

BEAM | Visit shopbeam.com/ALMOST30 and use code ALMOST30 to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off.

Bon Charge | Go to boncharge.com and use code almost30 to save 15%.

Revolve | Shop at REVOLVE.com/ALMOST30 and use code ALMOST30 for 15% off your first order. #REVOLVEpartner

To advertise on this podcast please email: partnerships@almost30.com.

Learn More:

Join our community:

Podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting: almost30.com/disclaimer.

Almost 30 is edited by Garett Symes and Isabella Vaccaro.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices