The final week of holiday shopping can feel overwhelming, especially for moms carrying the mental load of gifts, schedules, budgets, and expectations. In this episode of the Anti-Overwhelm Holiday Series, Licensed Therapist and Mom Coach Vanessa De Jesus Guzman explores the emotional pressure behind money, gift-giving, and the belief that we have to “go big” to show love during the holidays.

Through personal reflection, humor, and real-life examples, Vanessa unpacks why holiday financial stress and comparison hit so hard, how gift guilt sneaks in quietly, and why generosity doesn’t have to mean overspending or overextending yourself. This episode offers permission to simplify, redefine what “enough” looks like, and spread care throughout the year, not just on one day.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

• Why the last week of holiday shopping increases overwhelm and mom mental load
• How gift-giving pressure becomes tied to love, worth, and expectations
• Vanessa’s personal approach to holiday gifts and why it works for her family
• Lessons from the Netflix movie Roofman and the “more is better” trap
• Why generosity isn’t always about money, and how time and presence matter

TUNE IN TO LEARN

• Why feeling behind during the holidays doesn’t mean you are behind
• How “go big or go home” thinking fuels stress, comparison, and overspending
• Ways moms can simplify holiday expectations without guilt
• How to reduce financial stress during the holidays
• Why support for moms doesn’t have to wait until the new year

TAKEAWAY MESSAGE
This episode isn’t about doing the holidays right - it’s about easing the pressure so many moms carry quietly. If you’re still shopping, you’re not behind. If your gifts look simpler this year, your love isn’t smaller. And if this season feels heavier than expected, there’s a reason... you’ve been carrying a lot.

As we move through this final stretch, we’re invited to slow down, let go of comparison, and remember that generosity can be sustainable. And sometimes, the most meaningful gift we give ourselves is support. Listen in, and remember... you’re always free to be mindful.

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DISCLAIMER:
Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.

The holidays are often portrayed as a season of joy, connection, and magic, but for many of us, they also bring emotional overwhelm, grief, stress, and the pressure to “stay cheerful” even when we don’t feel that way. In this episode of the Free to Be Mindful Podcast, licensed therapist and mom coach Vanessa De Jesus Guzman explores why holiday joy can feel out of reach and how the emotional load of the season affects moms and families. With humor, honesty, and practical insight, Vanessa breaks down the emotional spectrum of the holidays and offers mindful tools to help you navigate the stress, mixed feelings, and expectations that come with this time of year.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION
In this conversation, Vanessa explains why so many people struggle emotionally during the holidays and how factors such as grief, change, overstimulation, and family expectations impact mental health. She also shares the difference between clinical depression and the “holiday funk” many moms experience, and introduces mindful practices from her Mindful Living Framework, including awareness, temperance, and intentional action. The episode includes a grounding gratitude meditation and intention-setting exercise to support emotional regulation during the busy holiday season.

This episode covers:
• How grief, transitions, and emotional burnout show up in December
• The difference between depression vs. emotional overload
• Why moms often feel pressure to be joyful
• How mixed feelings during the holidays are normal and valid
• Tools that help regulate your nervous system during stressful moments
• How to reconnect with yourself when joy feels out of reach
• A short guided meditation to help you reset and ground

TUNE IN TO LEARN

• How to recognize when holiday stress is affecting your mental health
• Signs that indicate true depression versus seasonal overwhelm
• Why naming your emotions reduces holiday anxiety and tension
• How micro-pauses and mindful moments help calm your body
• Practical ways to release unrealistic expectations during the holidays
• What creates authentic, sustainable joy
• How gratitude and intention-setting can shift your emotional experience

Send us a text

Support the show

1:1 PRIVATE COACHING FOR MOMS: https://www.amigamoms.com/

120 COPING SKILLS
https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills

WATCH THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE
https://www.youtube.com/@counselorvdejesus


GET THE MUSE HEADBAND AT A DISCOUNT!
https://choosemuse.com/freetobemindful
Use this link to get 15% off your total when you purchase the amazing brain sensing headband that tells you when you're in a meditative state and guides you to improve your practice.


LET’S STAY CONNECTED
🌐 Website: https://www.freetobemindful.com
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/counselorvdejesus/
🎤 Speaking & Workshops: https://www.freetobemindful.com/speaking


DISCLAIMER:
Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.

The holidays promise magic, but for many families, they also bring sensory overload, unpredictable routines, big emotions, and the kind of meltdowns that can appear out of nowhere. And if we’re honest, parents aren’t far behind.

In this episode, host Vanessa De Jesus Guzman explores why holiday overstimulation affects kids and adults, how behavior becomes communication during busy seasons, and what families can do to stay grounded, connected, and regulated. With humor, relatable stories, and practical strategies, this conversation will help your household navigate the holidays with more ease and fewer meltdowns.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

• Understanding why the holidays increase sensory overload for kids and parents
• How to identify early signs of overwhelm in your child
• Why emotional regulation starts with basic needs like sleep, food, and hydration
• The role of modeling calm, even imperfectly, during chaotic moments
• Simple reset routines and calm corners that work at home and on the go
• Why Santa threats and empty consequences don’t support regulation
• How parents can manage their own holiday overload with realistic tools
• Support available through the Making Spirits Bright Holiday Guide and Amiga Moms™ Coaching
  
  
  

TUNE IN TO LEARN

• Practical ways to prevent overstimulation for kids and adults
• What to say when your child is melting down (and what not to say)
• How to create a calm corner without making it a Pinterest project
• Why parents’ nervous systems matter as much as their children’s
• Small, doable mindfulness practices that help the whole family
• How to protect your peace and set healthy boundaries this season

TAKEAWAY MESSAGE

Holiday overstimulation is real, for both kids and for parents. But with small shifts, simple routines, and moments of presence, families can move through the season with more calm and connection. Tune in for tools that help you protect your peace, support your children’s regulation, and create a holiday experience that feels manageable, meaningful, and grounded.

Send us a text

Support the show

1:1 PRIVATE COACHING FOR MOMS: https://www.amigamoms.com/

120 COPING SKILLS
https://www.freetobemindful.com/podcast-120copingskills

WATCH THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE
https://www.youtube.com/@counselorvdejesus


GET THE MUSE HEADBAND AT A DISCOUNT!
https://choosemuse.com/freetobemindful
Use this link to get 15% off your total when you purchase the amazing brain sensing headband that tells you when you're in a meditative state and guides you to improve your practice.


LET’S STAY CONNECTED
🌐 Website: https://www.freetobemindful.com
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/counselorvdejesus/
🎤 Speaking & Workshops: https://www.freetobemindful.com/speaking


DISCLAIMER:
Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.