#HighlySensitivePeople #Introverts: What I’ve Learned About Getting Through The Holidays

If you’re highly sensitive or introverted, the holidays don’t just bring lights and celebrations. They often bring reflection—and weight.

Unfinished goals.
Too much noise, too much food, too many expectations.

Here’s the unconventional truth I’ve learned from living this season many times as a sensitive person:

The problem isn’t that you’re doing the holidays wrong.
It’s that you’ve been taught to override yourself.

Let me share what’s helped me navigate this season differently—and more honestly.

Past Regrets

As the year comes to a close, many of us naturally look back at what didn’t happen.

The goals we didn’t meet.
The changes we hoped to make.
The version of ourselves we thought we’d be by now.

For a long time, I believed regret was a motivator. If I felt bad enough, I’d finally push myself harder.

But here’s what I’ve learned instead:

Sensitive people often don’t fall short because they lack discipline. We pause because something didn’t feel aligned, sustainable, or safe.

So now, instead of asking “What’s wrong with me?” I ask:
What was I protecting?
Do these goals still matter to me?
Were they truly mine—or expectations I absorbed along the way?

Sometimes the most self-respecting choice isn’t to push forward—but to let go and choose differently in the year ahead.

Grieving During the Holidays

Grief doesn’t disappear because it’s December.

There is no right or wrong way to move through the holidays when you’re grieving. There is only what feels survivable—and honest—for you.

One of the most important permissions I ever gave myself was this:

I am allowed to opt out.

You can cry.
You can cancel traditions.
You can go quiet.
You can take a year off from celebrating altogether.

If you’re worried about disappointing others, please hear this:

Your grief is not an inconvenience.
Your pain does not ruin the season.

Anyone who truly cares about you will understand—even if they don’t fully know how to help.

Too Much Food and Temptation

For sensitive people, overindulgence during the holidays often isn’t about lack of willpower. It’s about overwhelm.

Too much stimulation leads to too much coping.

What’s helped me isn’t restriction or guilt—but self-attunement.

I try to:
Eat regularly so I don’t arrive depleted
Rest more than feels strictly necessary
Move my body gently, without punishment or pressure

Instead of asking “How do I control myself?” I ask:

What does my body need right now to feel safe and supported?

Care creates balance.
Shame only deepens the cycle.

One Last Thing I Want You to Know

The holidays don’t have to be joyful to be meaningful.
They don’t have to be magical to count.

You get to choose how you experience this season. Even small, quiet choices matter.

These reflections aren’t just for the holidays. They’re skills you can carry into the new year—with more steadiness, clarity, and self-trust.

I’d love to hear any thoughts or comments that you have.