Life Coaching Tips for the Festive Season

The festive season is nearly here. 

As 2025 draws to a close in two months time, many are struggling to balance the cost of living with the joy of giving. Food and energy prices have soared.

It’s supposed to be a time for family, friends, and fun, for time off and the giving of gifts. However, it can bring additional pressures and stress, with heightened competing demands of work, festivities, family, and friends.

And for some it’s a poignant time of year. It can bring feelings of isolation and sad memories, of heightened feelings of loss.

You may well find that demands of work and home increase as you try to clear up loose ends over the next few weeks before the year end. There are papers to finish, file or throw, things to tidy, the people you’ve been meaning to contact. There are never-ending digital demands, calls, WhatsApps, emails and more.

Then there may be extra demands of social gatherings at work, with friends and family, whether you celebrate a religious festival or simply enjoy the season. If you work for yourself, you may have only yourself to rely on to get up to date before the turn of the year.

Festive frenzy

In the run up to the holiday season, practical tasks & emotional pulls can steal your time! Shopping for gifts, card writing or sending online, present wrapping, family obligations (and family politics) and office parties, and personal invitations as well as having to cope with getting on top of your work before the long break. Does this sound familiar? How can you get things done and enjoy the frivolity?

There are so many expectations of you during this time of year. It can be difficult – even impossible – to meet everyone’s demands.  This is one of the most common issues that people bring to me as a coach; “How can I please everyone?” “If I please one person, I may offend another”.

However, in the words of musician and singer Stevie Wonder: “You can’t base your life on other people’s expectations.” So how can you be fair to yourself whilst respecting others?

Here are a few tips to help you keep things under control and give a precious gift to yourself: some ‘me time’.

Seven life coaching tips to survive the season

1. Plan to be in control…  

Planning saves you time and helps you feel in control. Just five minutes of planning can save a whole hour of time!

So, sit down and take stock of all that needs to be done and that you want to get done. Take control of any overwhelm.

Write a list, rather than hold it in your head. Prioritise the tasks and start with the most important. Tick them off as you do them; that’s a lovely feeling.

Be decisive about your tasks. Do them or ditch them. If you’re not sure about something, or how to go about it, place that task in a “Dilemma” tray or box to come back to. Don’t let it hold you up; and don’t forget it altogether. Schedule in a time to return to it. This works for both professional and personal matters.

 

2. Have the strength to say ‘no’ to some invitations

Having a proper discussion with people can help pre-empt or at least minimise any feelings of rejection they could feel if you want to refuse an invitation. Reassure them, if they’re close to you, that you care, explain the circumstances, and aim to find a ‘win-win’ solution for everybody.

Ever said ‘yes’ when you really mean ‘no’? It’s lovely to receive an invitation; but be honest from the start and listen to your initial ‘gut’ feeling. Resist pressures that make you feel guilty. Why commit to seeing absolutely everyone when you know you’ll be so rushed and not have as much time as you’d like to spend with the people you most want to be with?  Tell them from the start that you’d love to see them over the holiday season (if feasible) and suggest a day on which you can visit. It’s your assertive right to say yes or no… and to look after yourself at this busy time of year. However, there may be work related gatherings or 1-2-1 get togethers and initiatives that are beneficial networking opportunities.

 

3. Have the courage to say “no” to work

This is potentially difficult and it’s important to fulfil your contractual obligations. However, you may want to push back where you feel there are unreasonable demands such as being asked to stay late without notice, or when you have arrangements to go out. If you want to say “no”, explain what you can and cannot do now, and how when you can do the work, showing a willingness to do, at a time that suits. Ideally deal with the situation with assertiveness and find a workable compromise.

 

4. Shop with simplicity…

Seasonal shopping is far easier online if you’re short of time. Here’s how to make it easy but do it early to ensure it arrives in time:

• Suggest family & friends make a Wish List – the easiest shopping and safest presents! They can do this with one shop or online platform, a provide a list with links to the items they want
• Make sure you join in – make your own Wish List.
• Try Secret Santa: everyone buys – and receives – one anonymous present, saving a small fortune in large gatherings!

However, if you prefer shopping for real, plan it, ideally choosing less busy times of day and making a list to take with you. If you’re shopping online, do it early so everything is delivered in good time.

If you feel the need to limit expenditure this year, make a budget for the different gifts and other purchases and watch out for special offers such as on Black Friday.

 

5. Be true to your needs, set boundaries  

This year, how about setting limits on what you’ll do? If you’re usually the one to do the cooking, you could tell your family: “I love cooking and seeing you all. I’m too tired to do it all myself this year so I’d find it very helpful if everyone brings a dish”. No apologies, no excuses, simple honesty!

It’s your time too! The festive season brings so much expectation with it. Be considerate and honest – with others and yourself. If you assume responsibility for everyone else’s fun, you must think of the toll on you.

 

6. Coping with Christmas alone

Many people, however, do not have family or friends to share this time with; perhaps they’ve moved away, or there’s been loss or division in the family or among friends and you won’t be spending time with those you feel closest to. Coping over holiday periods like this can be even more difficult. It can be helpful, therefore, to plan ahead rather than simply let things happen.

Here are some suggestions to mull over and act upon those you’d find helpful …

• Make a list of things you enjoy doing and/or energise you and when you will do them and people you’d like to be in touch with.
• Send messages and cards early, and maybe arrange to meet up, go for a meal or a walk, or organise a video call.
• On Christmas Day, be sure to eat your favourite foods and locate in advance good movies/shows to watch on TV.
• Be adventurous and book a trip with a solo company like Just You or maybe one that includes an activity you enjoy, such as Solo Walking Holidays.
• If you want to help others, many charities look for volunteers for Christmas Day, to assist organisations serving both ends of the age range, such as Action for Children and Age UK, as well as for homeless people – contact an organisation like Crisis at Christmas. 

 

7. Give yourself a ‘Me’ Day

Remember to have some ‘Me’-time at this YOU-time of the year. Give yourself a gift of kindness as well as others.

Put in your diary/calendar an appointment with yourself to have a ‘Me’ day or 2 x half days, whichever fits your lifestyle more easily. This is time for you, doing what you want to do, whether relaxing by yourself or with others, pursuing a goal that’s important to you, or doing something you enjoy like going to the gym or cinema. Avoid finding reasons why you ‘can’t’.  It’s a reward for all the time and emotional energy you’ve given to others. Enjoy your ‘Me’ time!’

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is mystery, today is a gift – that’s why it’s called the present” (Anonymous)

I hope that you found these tips to be interesting and helpful. Whilst they are created with the festive season in mind, you could apply them assertively at any time of year. And the earlier you start planning, the less stressful it is likely to be.

Wishing you the best for the festive season, whichever festivity you celebrate.

If you would like an appointment over the holiday period – either about issues you’re dealing with or making positive change in the coming year – please email me to arrange. I will aim to reply within 48 hours.