278: Managing Holiday Overwhelm Stress-Relief Strategies for Parents with Caley Kukla

The holiday season is here – and with it, the stress that can sneak up when we’re trying to make everything magical. In this episode, I’m bringing back parenting expert Caley Kukla to chat all things holiday sanity. If you’re already feeling the overwhelm of balancing family traditions, schedules, and self-care that actually helps, this one’s for you. We’re diving into how to stay grounded, how to make holiday moments meaningful (not perfect), and why multitasking is a myth. Let’s keep the holidays simple, joyful, and – dare I say it – peaceful.

Here’s What We Get Into:

• "One Thing" Practice 🎯: Caley shares her “one thing” approach to help us all slow down the holiday chaos and reduce that never-ending to-do list anxiety.
• Real Self-Care, Not Just Bubble Baths 🛁: We go beyond the usual self-care tips and talk about meeting our core needs (think: food, rest, and yes, remembering to go to the bathroom!).
• Tradition Tweaks 🎉: I share my own story of learning to let go of a “perfect” holiday tradition when it wasn’t clicking with my kids. Caley and I chat about ways to keep traditions meaningful and intentional, even if they look a little different.
• Overcoming Overwhelm 💆‍♀️: We talk about why tuning into our own needs first can transform family gatherings, make us less reactive, and help us show up as the calm, connected parents we want to be.

Memorable Moments:

• My Tree Decorating Reality Check: I share the story of my high hopes for a picture-perfect tree-decorating night…and how it actually went down when my kids weren’t exactly on board.
• Caley’s “Gruffalo Crumble” Tradition: Caley shares her heartwarming story about turning a nostalgic family dish into a holiday staple with a kid-friendly twist.
• “Rhythm Over Routine” for the Holidays: Caley’s advice on balancing holiday busyness with downtime so you and the family stay refreshed (instead of frazzled).

Your Holiday Takeaway: This episode is packed with insights you can use today – like creating a “stress-release list” to stay grounded, and taking just a few minutes to meet your own basic needs during a busy day. The holidays don’t have to be chaotic. Let’s make them exactly what we want them to be – simple, intentional, and full of moments that matter.

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Clutter-Free Gift Guide 🎁: Tired of the holiday gift pile-up? Check out my guide with 75+ clutter-free gift ideas and a bonus gift calendar to stay organized! Get it here for just $3.
• Follow Caley: Connect with Caley on Instagram for more insights on intentional parenting and self-care – and hear about her upcoming community for parents!