How to navigate end of year overwhelm through creativity
With the year winding down, there’s a lot of chaos in the air—whether it’s the whirlwind of the holidays, the stress of unmet goals, or the emotional weight of everything happening in the world. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone! I’ve been right there too, navigating all kinds of feelings in these last few weeks.
This is why today, I’m sharing five gentle reminders to help you prioritize your wellbeing while staying grounded through creativity this holiday season. Let’s get into it!
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End of Year Expectations and Obligations
One of the reasons I’m talking to you about feeling overwhelmed is because I myself have been feeling this way in the last few weeks. If you're like me and you live in the USA, you’ve likely been experiencing lots of big emotions due to all the ongoing events around us—the elections, the general political climate, and the ongoing crises around the world, including the genocide in Gaza—emotions are at an all time high.
Then, as we start to approach the end of the year, there's also the added pressure and expectation to maximize every minute of your waking hour, trying to achieve all the things we didn't get to in the last few months.
And, as if that wasn't enough, there's the added pressure of the holidays, with the forced “joy and cheer" marketed and advertised to us and the expectation to spend more time with family and friends, attending work functions, doing holiday shopping, cooking, hosting, and the list goes on… Just writing all of this got me feeling exhausted. So, it’s only very normal to have all these big emotions and maybe even contradictory feelings simultaneously during this season.
The Impact on Our Wellbeing and Self-Care
Then, as neurodivergent and multi-passionate women of color, this time of year can also impact us differently than most other people. For example:
Your routine may be disrupted. Maybe your spouse and kids are home and your usual morning routine goes out the window. The things that you tend to do for yourself take a back seat and now you’re more focused on attending to your family’s needs instead of your own.
You may have to spend more time with others, which means less alone time. If you’re not spending time on your own and for yourself, you’re less likely to notice what you’re needing and wanting. As a result, you end up feeling disconnected, distracted, and scattered. This can also be super frustrating when you’re wanting to explore your various interests but have less time for it.
You may struggle putting yourself first due to the pressure of accommodating to everyone else and keeping the peace. You don’t want to let people down and you’re afraid of disappointing others. So, you end up overextending yourself and stepping away from all of this to focus on you for a bit can feel really hard.
Five Gentle Reminders to Prioritize Your Wellbeing
With all of this being said, let’s work through some gentle reminders to help you navigate this season with grace:
Allow yourself to feel it all. First and foremost, let yourself feel your feelings—whatever they are. Take a moment to name what you’re feeling. Out loud or in your head and simply acknowledge it. When we do this, we’re giving ourselves permission to process those emotions. And remember that feelings don’t last forever! By recognizing them, you’re making space to let them flow through you with more ease.
Embrace routine changes. It's totally okay if your routine shifts. Give yourself flexibility. Instead of stressing about the changes, keep a running list of activities you’d like to do, so you can revisit them when time allows. This way, you won’t forget the things that bring you joy, and you can revisit them when the time is right.
Make time for yourself. No matter how busy life gets, carve out moments for yourself. Creativity is such a powerful tool for grounding, even if you only have five minutes.
- Doodle something simple.
- Dance to your favorite song.
- Journal a quick gratitude list.
Even these small acts can help you reconnect with yourself, ease your mind, and bring some calm to your day.
Opt-out of unnecessary shopping. It’s easy to get caught up in the pressure to buy, buy, buy this time of year. But guess what? You don’t have to.
Instead, try “shopping your closet”! This means exploring what you already own and finding new ways to style your favorite pieces. Not only is this fun, creative, and an excellent way to express yourself but it’s also a reminder that you already have so much to be grateful for!
Practice gratitude through creativity.
Here’s a fun way to lean into gratitude while staying creative: make art with what you love.- Draw your favorite sweaters or cozy winter items.
- Snap photos of cherished objects around your home and create a journal
spread.- Sketch the food that’s bringing you comfort.
This isn’t just about creating—it’s about honoring the things that make your life beautiful!
Final Thoughts
Remember, no matter what’s going on around you, make time to connect with yourself and your creativity.
Now more than ever, we need to use all of our tools to support our own mental health and wellbeing.
You matter. Your needs matter. And taking time for yourself is not selfish—it’s essential!
Renata is a creativity coach who guides neurodivergent and multi-passionate women of color to use creativity as a tool for self-discovery and healing, helping them experience more ease and calm in their daily lives. She is currently offering a free copy of her therapeutic art-making workbook to those who sign up for her email list. Sign up here to get your free copy.
