The Joy of Doing Absolutely Nothing During the Holidays

Celebrating intentional rest as a mental health practice!

Let’s be honest: the holidays have a way of turning even the calmest among us into overcaffeinated elves on a mission. Suddenly there are gifts to wrap, cookies to bake, extra social events, family visits, end-of-year work tasks, and a mysterious pressure to feel festive every waking second. It’s like the entire month is one long to-do list with glitter on it.

So here’s a radical thought: what if you gave yourself permission to do… absolutely nothing?

Yes. Nothing.
No holiday hustle. No multi-tasking. No forcing yourself to be merry if your energy says otherwise. Just intentional, guilt-free rest.

And here’s the wild twist—resting on purpose is actually one of the healthiest mental practices you can offer yourself during a season that tends to demand so much.

My Own Relationship With Rest

Rest has never been on my Santa radar or part of my holiday plans. In fact, I used to joke that resting was for the weak. I would work seven days a week, constantly moving, constantly pushing, convinced that I was stronger than people who “needed” a nap. I wore exhaustion like a badge of honor and believed being tired meant I was doing life right.

Well… that was the old me.
The new me has a very different story.

I’ve learned—slowly, sometimes reluctantly—that rest isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s wisdom. It’s maturity. It’s choosing to take care of myself before the burnout hits. And I’ll be honest: even now, it’s still hard for me to stop and rest. My instinct is to keep going. But now I catch myself, pause, and say, “Maybe strength can look like slowing down.”

Why Rest Feels So “Wrong” (But Isn’t)

Most of us have been conditioned to believe that rest is something we earn only after everything is done. But during the holidays, nothing is ever fully done. There’s always more shopping, more decorating, more cleaning, more “shoulds.”

This is why intentional rest is such a powerful act of rebellion. It’s a reminder that your worth is not tied to productivity, performance, or perfection. Rest tells your nervous system, “It’s safe to slow down.” And that message alone can shift your entire holiday experience.

What “Doing Nothing” Actually Looks Like

Doing nothing doesn’t mean sitting on the couch staring at a wall… unless that sounds amazing to you—in which case, please go for it. But intentional rest can be simple, cozy, easy moments that remind your body and mind to soften:

• Curling up under a blanket with a cup of tea and zero agenda.

• Taking a long bath and letting the warm water be the whole point.

• Sitting in your favorite chair and watching the light move across the room.

• Turning your phone on “Do Not Disturb” for an hour (or more).

• Staring out a window, letting your thoughts wander without needing to “fix” anything.

This kind of unscheduled quiet helps reset your mind and clear emotional clutter—something we often don’t realize we’re carrying until we stop long enough to feel it.

Rest is Not Laziness. It’s Maintenance.

You recharge your phone.
You fuel your car.
You restart your computer when it freezes.

But yourself? During the holidays we tend to run on fumes and call it normal.

Intentional rest protects your mental health the same way a good night’s sleep protects your immune system—it’s essential maintenance. It reduces anxiety, restores emotional balance, and prevents you from melting into a holiday puddle of stress.

When you honor your energy, you feel more grounded, more present, and better equipped to enjoy the parts of the season that actually matter.

The Magic of Doing Less

One of the funniest realizations people have when they begin resting intentionally is this: nothing falls apart. The world keeps spinning. The holidays still happen. People still love you even if you didn’t bake the cookies from scratch or get everyone matching pajamas.

Doing less doesn’t mean you’re failing at the holiday spirit. It means you’re choosing peace over pressure.

And here’s the sweetest part—you often end up experiencing more joy. When you slow down, you actually have the bandwidth to laugh, connect, savor, breathe, and be present. And isn’t that what everyone says the holidays are supposed to be about anyway?

Let This Be Your Holiday Permission Slip

So if you need a sign to cancel a plan, ignore a chore, skip a tradition that no longer brings you joy, or take a nap in the middle of the day… here it is.

You are allowed to rest.
You are allowed to do nothing.
You are allowed to enjoy the holidays in a way that supports your mental health.

Intentional rest isn’t laziness—it’s love.
It’s nourishment.
It’s the quiet exhale your body has been asking for.

This holiday season, celebrate not just the sparkle and the gatherings, but the soft moments that let you come back home to yourself. Choose presence over pressure. Choose ease over exhaustion. Choose rest—and call it sacred.