Rest, Recharge, Repeat: A Christmas Message About Compassionate Wellness
Rest, Recharge, Repeat: A Christmas Message About Compassionate Wellness
Today is Christmas Day (when this is published). For some, it is a holiday filled with traditions, family, food, and…expectations. For others, it is a regular Thursday, a workday, a quiet rest day, or even a difficult day. Regardless of how or whether it is celebrated, it is a day that often carries extra weight. Emotionally, socially, and mentally.
This time of year often pushes people into overdrive: more plans, more obligations, more noise. Even when things slow down on paper, internal pressure can remain high. There is the pressure to enjoy it, to be grateful, to do it right, or to bounce back quickly once it is over.
This is where “compassionate” wellness matters.
Wellness is not about optimizing every single moment or “fixing” yourself before the new year – or planning to “fix” yourself in the new year. It is about responding to what your body and mind really need, especially during times of change, stress, or emotion. And for many people, today calls for rest.
Rest does not always mean sleep. It can mean fewer decisions, quieter moments, or saying no without explaining yourself. It might look like stepping away from conversations that drain you, or permitting yourself to eat in a way that feels right rather than performative.
Recharge is not something you schedule to happen at a specific moment. It happens when you stop fighting and acknowledge what is already true. If you are tired, admit it. If you are full, honor it. If you are lonely, overstimulated, or disconnected, notice that and believe it without judgment.
There is a lot of messaging this time of year about resetting, burning off, making up for, or starting fresh. None of that is required today. You do not need to earn rest. You do not need to compensate for food. You do not need to plan your next improvement.
Repeat is the part that matters most. Compassionate wellness is not a one-day idea. It is a practice. Listening. Adjusting. Letting your needs change from one day to the next.
If today feels joyful, enjoy it. If today feels heavy or quiet or awkward, that is allowed too. There is no right way to experience this day.
As the year winds down, remember that health is not built in dramatic moments. It is built in small, consistent acts of care. Drinking water because your body is thirsty. Eating enough to feel steady. Resting because you are human.
Wherever you are today, take a breath. Let things be simpler. Rest when you can. Recharge in ways that feel real. And carry that compassion forward, one ordinary day at a time.
Happy Holidays to you.
