MINDSET
The December Slow-Down: Why You Actually Need Less, Not More

December arrives and suddenly the world expects women and moms to turn into event planners, memory makers, bakers, decorators, psychologists, and personal shoppers, all while still keeping up with work, maintaining the home, and taking care of ourselves.
No wonder this month feels heavy.

But guess what:
You don’t need more effort. You need more alignment.

Because overwhelm doesn’t come from having “too much to do.”
It comes from doing things that pull you out of who you are.

This month, try a different approach, a softer one. One that doesn’t ask you to magically transform, but instead helps you return to the grounded, calm version of you that you like being.

1. Decide What Actually Matters (And Release the Rest)

Instead of asking, “What do I need to do this month?” ask:
“What actually matters to me this season?”

The class party? Maybe.
Matching pajamas? Maybe not.
An elaborate Christmas Eve menu? Probably not.

You get to choose.
When you define your priorities, you also define your peace.

2. Protect Your Quiet Moments Like Appointments

You can’t pour into a month you’re sprinting through.
This week, block off 20 minutes of quiet every single day. Morning, nap time, evening… whenever.

No phone.
No noise.
Just space to decompress.

You will be shocked at how different you feel when you’re no longer running on emotional fumes.

3. Lower the Bar, Raise the Joy

Sometimes joy comes when the standards drop.

Maybe Christmas dinner is rotisserie chicken.
Maybe the tree stays half-decorated.
Maybe the kids watch Christmas movies while you read a book.

Happiness isn’t created by doing more.
It’s created by letting yourself be present.

4. Do the Tiny Thing That Brings You Back to Yourself

When the season starts to spin, the quickest way to realign is through something small:

– A 5-minute walk
– A warm shower alone
– A quick clean space (counter or sink)
– A single page of a book
– One deep breath in the pantry

Small habits build stability.
Stability builds calm.
Calm builds a meaningful December.

A Soft December Isn’t Lazy. It’s Intentional.

You don’t have to do the month “perfectly.”
You just have to experience it as YOU. Not the exhausted, stretched-too-thin version, but the aligned version.

A softer December isn’t an escape.
It’s a homecoming. And this is your permission.

NUTRITION
Sheet Pan Cashew Chicken

The only thing easier and faster than a crockpot recipe is a sheet pan recipe! These have transformed our evenings and make eating a healthy meal on busy nights attainable.

Ingredients
For the chicken

• 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs

• 1 tablespoon sesame oil

• 2 tablespoons corn starch

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/2 teaspoon paprika

For the sheet pan

• 4 ounces small broccoli florets

• 1 red bell pepper roughly chopped

• 1/2 sweet yellow onion roughly chopped

• 1 cup cashews

For the Sauce

• 1/2 cup hoisin sauce

• 1/4 cup soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon sriracha

• 2 tablespoons brown sugar

• 1 garlic clove minced

• 1 teaspoon ginger minced

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400˚F.

• Cut the chicken into 1 inch bite-sized pieces. Add the sesame oil, cornstarch, salt, garlic powder, and paprika. Work the chicken until it is evenly coated with the mixture.

• Spread chicken in a single layer on a large greased sheet pan. Add the broccoli, red pepper, and onion. Then sprinkle cashews over the top.

  Bake for 10 minutes.

• While the chicken cooks, make the sauce by whisking together hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sriracha, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger.

• Remove the sheet pan from the oven. Pour the sauce over the chicken and vegetables. Use tongs or a spatula to toss the chicken and veggies with the sauce.

  Return the sheet pan to the oven for 4-6 more minutes, or until chicken is cooked through (165˚F internal temp.)

HEALTH/WELLNESS
The 5-Minute Rules That Save You This Month

The women who stay sane in December don’t have more time.
They just have better micro-habits.

Here are the five 5-minute rules that will keep you grounded, aligned, and actually feeling GOOD.

1. The 5-Minute Tidy

Set a timer and pick one space:
– Kitchen counter
– Entryway
– Couch area
– Bathroom sink

Five minutes.
Micro-cleaning creates macro-peace.

2. The 5-Minute Walk After a Meal

This regulates blood sugar, improves digestion, and instantly clears your head.
Perfect for the sugar-heavy, carb-heavy, emotionally-heavy season.

If you can only do one habit this month, it’s this one.

3. The 5-Minute Protein Add

Pick a meal and add one thing:
– 2 eggs
– A few slices of deli turkey
– A Greek yogurt
– Cottage cheese
– Protein shake
– Leftover chicken

Protein stabilizes your energy, your cravings, and honestly… your mood.

This is how you stay on track without “tracking.”

4. The 5-Minute Reset Before Bed

Turn down the lights.
Put the phone away.
Do something that lowers your nervous system:
– Stretch
– Breathe
– Hot tea
– Gratitude journal

Your future self will thank you.

5. The 5-Minute At-Home Workout

No equipment. No excuses.
Pick one:
– 1 minute squats
– 1 minute push-ups
– 1 minute glute bridges
– 1 minute wall sit
– 1 minute plank

Done.
You moved your body today.

These tiny habits stack, and when stacked together, they create alignment.

This month isn’t about perfection.
It’s about staying connected to the version of you that feels calm, steady, strong, and proud.

Five minutes at a time.
That’s all it takes.