The holidays arrive with the best intentions. You have a vision—homemade gifts, a beautifully decorated home, healthy eating habits maintained through January. Then your husband loses his job. You're told you need a new hip. The test results come back concerning. And suddenly it's 10 PM and you're eating ice cream straight from the container, wondering why you can't just stick to the plan like everyone else seems to.

This week, I'm breaking down why the holidays create the perfect storm for emotional eating, overspending, and complete overwhelm. But here's the twist: generic "holiday stress hacks" won't solve your problem because you don't know YOUR unique trigger pattern. Most women are following someone else's playbook instead of understanding what actually sends them into the kitchen at 3 PM or keeps them scrolling Pinterest until midnight.

Tune in as I walk you through identifying your personal coping strategies when life throws curveballs (because it will), introduce the game-changing concept of "bare minimum Christmas," and share how one of my clients catered an entire guild party—two days of cooking and serving—without stressing once.

You'll discover why the highs and lows of your holiday experience reveal everything about your emotional regulation, and learn the exact framework for building resiliency so December doesn't derail you every single year.

Want to cut your emotional eating in half this holiday season? Join my Conquer Holiday and Emotional Eating class starting now. You'll get all the modules, office hours to ask questions, and lifetime access for two years. Real tools, real help, real transformation—one Christmas cookie at a time. Check it out here - https://dara-tomasson-coaching.mykajabi.com/emotional-eating-course

What You'll Learn in this Episode:

🎄Why the holidays are a perfect storm for triggers (nostalgia, pressure to perform, family dynamics, and lack of self-trust)

🎄The "straight line vs. reality" of holiday planning and why your highs and lows reveal your emotional regulation

🎄How to identify YOUR unique coping strategies when life doesn't go according to plan

🎄The "bare minimum Christmas" exercise that diffuses overwhelm immediately

🎄Why spreading your joy across 9 life categories (not just relationships or food) creates resilience

🎄How one client transformed from holiday stress to catering a guilt party without any anxiety

🎄The real reason you can't follow through on your plans (spoiler: it's not willpower)

If this episode resonated with you, be sure to follow my YouTube channel for more. And keep up with me on Instagram @dara_tomasson