A Bite-Sized Christmas: Making December More Manageable for ND Brains.

Christmas has a way of arriving before we’ve quite caught our breath. One minute it’s early November, the next your diary is full, the shops are chaotic, and there’s this unspoken expectation to be festive, organised, sociable and serene all at once. It’s a lot for anyone — and if you experience overwhelm, sensory sensitivities, shutdowns or meltdowns, it can tip into “too much” very quickly.

So here’s an idea I’ve been exploring with clients: what if we made Christmas bite-sized? (Not in meaning, just in load.)

Step One: Look Back Before You Plan

A quick reflection can make a huge difference. Think about what has been difficult for you in previous years and what, even in a small way, made things easier. Notice where overwhelm tends to creep in. You’re not judging yourself here — you’re gathering really useful information from your own experience.

Step Two: Define Your “Manageable Christmas”

Once you’ve reflected, picture what a more manageable version of Christmas might look like for you. Maybe it’s shorter visits, fewer activities, quieter pockets of time, or simply allowing yourself to rest when you need to. It might mean focusing on one meaningful thing instead of trying to do everything. Your Christmas doesn’t have to resemble anyone else’s for it to be valid, real or enjoyable.

Step Three: Chunk Things Down

Big tasks are often too much in one go, especially at this time of year. Take Christmas shopping, for example. If an all-day Saturday trip into Birmingham would flatten you, then breaking it into smaller chunks might help — one or two hours instead of a full day, one or two shops followed by a break, or spreading it across a couple of days rather than cramming it in. The same applies to socialising, decorating, cooking and travelling. You’re allowed to go at a pace your nervous system can actually handle.

Step Four: Manage Expectations Upfront

Naming your limits early can save a lot of stress later. If you’re doing something with others, it’s completely okay to say that you’ll only be staying for a couple of hours, or that you’ll need breaks, or that you’re keeping things lower-key this year. Clear communication isn’t being awkward — it’s setting a kind boundary for yourself and everyone involved.

Step Five: Commit to It (and Let Go of the Performance)

This is often the hardest part. Even with a plan that suits you, sticking to it can stir up guilt, worry and that old familiar pressure to “push through” because it’s Christmas. You might fear disappointing people or feel sad that you can’t do more. But here’s the thing: someone may feel disappointed, and that doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong.

Your job isn’t to perform Christmas; it’s to experience it in a way that doesn’t cost you your wellbeing. Letting go of the idea that it should be magical or perfect can be incredibly freeing. “Good enough” is more than enough. A Christmas you can actually enjoy matters.

And while we’re here: please believe people when they say they’ve had enough — including yourself. Everyone’s “enough” is different. If someone says they need to leave, that they’re done, or that the noise is too much, they’re not being rude. They’re naming their capacity. Respecting that creates a kinder atmosphere for everyone, children included.

Which brings me neatly to this…

A Quick Word About “Rudeness”

Taking a break is not rude.
Stepping outside to breathe is not rude.
Leaving early is not rude.

That’s called self-care.

(Rude would be flicking a V on your way out and calling everyone a XXXX.)

Quietly saying “I need a breather” is simply being a grown human with boundaries — and honestly, we could do with normalising that a bit more.

A Kinder Way Through Christmas

A bite-sized Christmas isn’t about missing out; it’s about making space for moments of calm, connection and genuine enjoyment without pushing yourself beyond your limits. Quality over quantity. Peace and Joy.

Giving yourself permission, to choose to do it your way!

If you hit overload this Christmas, I’m here. Get in touch if you need somewhere to vent or develop some strategies that work for you.