The festive hangover

Ever wake up after the festivities and feel… odd? Not sad, not happy, just a bit blah?If so, this pause is for you.We talk about the festive rush - the lists, the logistics, the trays of mince pies and the endless wrapping - but almost never about the crash that follows it. The emotional hangover. Not the alcohol one. The one that comes from simply feeling so much.“Nothing’s wrong… but everything feels wrong.” Perhaps because after weeks of holding it all together - the excitement, the nostalgia, the tension, the joy - our bodies finally say, Right, now can we feel everything we didn’t have time for?And children feel it too. The ones who’ve been polite with relatives, buzzing with excitement, trying their best to behave… suddenly wobbling once the house goes quiet. Fractious, slow, teary, moody. Nothing’s wrong. Their nervous systems are just landing.So this week, my invitation is simple:Go slower than you think you should.Do one tiny grounding thing - a shower, a short walk, a cup of tea without multitasking. Let your children decompress in their own way too. And release the idea that you should be feeling grateful and glowing. Sometimes we just feel how we feel.You’re not failing. You’re simply landing after a busy season.And landing takes time.Thank you for pausing with me. Take care. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kimmccabe.substack.com/subscribe