Christmas is sold as “the most wonderful time of the year” – but for so many women over 35, especially busy professional mums, it feels more like overwhelm on repeat. In this episode, I’m breaking down why the wheels so often come off with food, movement, mood and sleep in December – and how you can do things differently this year without going “all or nothing”.

We’ll talk about the real-life pressures on women in midlife at Christmas – work deadlines, family expectations, the mental load of “making it magical”, and peri-menopausal shifts – and how they impact your nervous system, cravings, emotional eating, energy and irritability. Then we move into simple, doable strategies that fit an actually busy life, not a perfect Pinterest December.

In this episode you’ll hear:

↳ Why your brain and body are more stressed in December (and why it’s not a willpower problem)
↳ How to anchor your nutrition with simple “non-negotiable” meals instead of chasing perfection
↳ Ways to keep movement going with 10-minute “movement snacks” and a maintenance mindset
↳ Practical mood and stress tools you can use in real time, even at school plays and family gatherings
↳ Sleep-friendly tweaks around screens, alcohol and wind-down that still allow for a social life
↳ How to build a gentle December plan that supports you, rather than punishes you, when life is full

If you’re tired of feeling like Christmas wipes out your progress every year, this episode will help you feel more steady, compassionate with yourself and in control of the bits you can actually influence – one small choice at a time.