Who Has the Time to Prepare for Christmas?
Menopause Meets the Holiday To-Do List
We need to address something honestly: December is not a month, it is an endurance event. Even for women who are not navigating menopause, the holiday season is a marathon sprinkled with glitter, expectations, emotional labour, and social commitments. Now add fluctuating hormones, unpredictable energy levels, sleep disturbances, and middle-of-the-day hot flashes? It’s like being asked to run the race while carrying a weighted blanket.
The truth: Time feels different during menopause.
Some days you’re unstoppable. Other days even writing a grocery list feels like a big accomplishment. Here’s how to regain a sense of control, sanity, and even joy in the middle of the holiday time crunch.
Shift to Reality-Based Scheduling
A common theme during menopause is adjusting outdated beliefs. Many women unconsciously compare themselves to their “previous selves”:
The old you could:
Shop for your entire extended family in one afternoon.
Stay up late baking without needing a 48-hour recovery period.
Host parties with genuine enthusiasm instead of mild resentment.
Say “yes” to everything and still look rested in photos.
The current you has a changing body and reduced tolerance for chaos and that’s not a moral failing. It’s biology.
Reality-based scheduling means asking:
How much can I realistically do in a day?
Where do I need more support?
What traditions can be simplified?
What can I release without guilt?
When expectations soften, time feels more spacious.
Reframe the “I Don’t Have Time” Narrative
The phrase “I don’t have time” often hides deeper truths:
“I don’t have the energy.”
“I don’t want to disappoint anyone.”
“I’m trying to meet outdated expectations.”
“I’m overwhelmed but haven’t admitted it.”
Once you uncover the real thought beneath the surface, you can challenge and change it.
Try reframing:
“My time is limited” → “My energy is valuable, and I choose how to use it.”
“I can’t do everything” → “I don’t need to do everything.”
“People will be disappointed” → “People can adapt, and I deserve boundaries.”
Menopause isn’t a problem to solve, it’s a cue to reorganize your life around what matters most.
Lean Into Your Natural Competencies
Women in midlife often forget how competent they truly are. You’ve mastered problem-solving, emotional wisdom, perspective-taking, and crisis management. You know what’s important and what absolutely isn’t worth losing sleep over.
Ask yourself:
What are my strengths?
How can these strengths support me this season?
For example:
If you’re systems-oriented: create a simplified menu and repeat it each year.
If you’re relational: prioritize meaningful gatherings over obligatory ones.
If you’re creative: reduce the volume of tasks but increase the heart in them.
If you’re a natural delegator: let others cook, wrap, shop, or decorate.
Your strengths are not diminished by menopause. They’re simply evolving, becoming clearer, sharper, more aligned with your values.
