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There’s a point every December where women quietly look around and think:
“Why am I doing all of this by myself?”
And then — without announcing it, without posting about it, without even admitting it out loud —
we start stopping things.
Not out of laziness.
Not because we don’t care.
But because the mental load finally tips from “normal” to “absolutely not.”
I’ve done it.
Every woman I know has done it.
And the wild thing?
These quiet little “nope’s” end up making January feel so much lighter.
Here are the 9 things women over 35 stop doing in December — and if you recognize yourself in even one of these, you’re in good company.
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1. Over planning every detail
At some point, we realize we don’t need 14 perfectly coordinated things to make a holiday special.
Good enough suddenly becomes… beautiful.
2. Taking on emotional labor for every family member
We stop trying to referee drama, anticipate feelings, and fix the mood of an entire house.
It’s not our responsibility (even though it has always quietly been handed to us).
3. Cooking everything from scratch
Store-bought becomes a love language.
Nobody at the dinner table cares if the rolls came from a package — they only care if you’re sitting with them, not stressed in the kitchen.
4. Saying “yes” to every outing
At 25 we said yes out of FOMO.
At 35+ we say no out of self-preservation.
5. Buying gifts to prove something
Suddenly we’re done with “performative gifting.”
We give because we want to — or we keep it simple because peace is more valuable than a stack of presents.
6. Pretending we’re not overwhelmed
There’s power in finally saying:
“Yeah, this is a lot.”
That sentence alone lowers your shoulders three inches.
7. Doing things the way we’ve always done them
Women over 35 become masters of the mid-December pivot.
If it’s too much, too expensive, too chaotic — we change the plan without guilt.
8. Carrying the entire next year in our heads
We stop trying to secretly map out everyone’s schedules, budgets, meals, appointments, and goals for the next 12 months.
It’s too big of a load for one person.
9. Believing we’re supposed to do December alone
This one is the quietest shift of all.
Women finally start asking:
for help
for time
for clarity
for space
for support
for a plan
And life gets dramatically easier the moment they do.
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Here’s the part nobody tells you:
Stopping things doesn’t make you less capable.
It makes you more powerful, more present, and more prepared for who you’re becoming next year.
January gets 10x easier not because everything magically simplifies…
but because you finally stop carrying what isn’t yours.
And if you’re sitting in that space right now — the “something has to shift” moment — I want to help you make the next 30 days lighter, clearer, and structured in a way that fits your real life.
Not hustle.
Not pressure.
Just… clarity and calm.
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Read our guide to find out why growth marketers should make sure CTV is part of their 2026 media mix.
If you want support making January easier…
I opened a handful of $99 coaching call spots this week.
They’re 30 minutes and we build your:
January plan
money priorities
schedule that supports your energy
“stop doing” list that saves your sanity
simple next steps for your boutique or digital product goals
If that feels like a relief — grab a spot here before they’re gone.
No pressure.
Just help.
Love,
Carina ♥
P.S.
All my favorites, tools, and “where did you get that?” links are here if you ever want them:
👉 https://tapto.shop/knittedbelle
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