Today we’re talking about the part of the holiday mental load that almost no one prioritizes, but absolutely every new parent needs: your own capacity, needs, and sanity.
Because when you’re navigating the holidays with a baby, even the “simple” things can feel overwhelming. Lights, noise, disrupted routines, pressure to be everywhere, overstimulation, emotional labor, family dynamics… it all compounds fast.

Most new parents end up pushing their own needs to the bottom of the list, which leads to burnout, resentment, and that “I’m holding everything together by a thread” feeling.
When you’re running on empty, nobody gets the best version of you—least of all you.

In this episode, we cover:
• Why self-preservation is essential during the holidays
• How new parents become overstimulated and emotionally depleted
• The “Non-Negotiable + Bailout Plan” tool to protect your bandwidth
• How to communicate your needs without guilt
• How to prevent emotional overload before it spills into conflict
• Why your sanity is a major part of your family’s holiday wellbeing

This episode is part of our 10-day series helping couples replace holiday overwhelm with connection, clarity, and teamwork—especially during the busiest season of early parenthood.

👉 Download the free Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough guide
This companion tool includes a full holiday brain dump, Self + Sanity prompts, emotional labor mapping, and the weekly Holiday Huddle template to help you protect your capacity this season:
Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough: Make the Invisible Holiday Work Visible in Your Relationship

Your needs matter. Your bandwidth matters. And your sanity is worth protecting...especially in December.