Holidays and gatherings evoke connection and joy. And yet, many of us find ourselves exhausted, over‑scheduled, and already thinking about the next thing. In a season packed with family gatherings, traditions, and expectations, Keith and Laura shift their holiday focus from “How do we get through this?” to “How do we savor this?”

Presence, Boundaries, and Bandwidth
Keith loves being with people and still finds gatherings genuinely draining. As an introvert, he has learned that being present takes real energy, which means planning for rest instead of feeling guilty when he needs downtime. Rather than disappearing to the basement when he is overloaded, he now works on communicating his bandwidth in advance, agreeing on a plan for the event, and for decompression afterward. He also experiments with sensory anchors, like holiday lights and music, to ground himself in the moment and truly enjoy the experience instead of slipping into overwhelm or into productivity mode which can lead to disconnecting.

Pausing, Self‑Coaching, and Asking for Help
Laura comes to the same questions from a slightly different angle. She often looks like an extrovert, yet she notices how quickly saying yes to everything leaves her depleted and less present. She shares candid examples, from over preparing for their gingerbread‑house day to slipping into “I’ll just do it all” mode, and how she uses a simple pause to move out of that pattern. Sometimes a pause looks like a mini bathroom break, a one‑minute breathing exercise on her watch, or intentionally choosing a seat that makes real conversation easier. She reminds us that you do not have to accept every invitation to be a good friend or family member. 

Listen to what you require to show up as your best self, and let those needs guide what you say yes to and how long you stay. To dive deeper into designing gatherings that actually nourish you, begin by choosing one simple practice—a pause to breathe, a clear boundary, or a quiet reset—and test it at your next event. Notice how your energy, presence, and enjoyment shift when you honor your limits instead of overriding them. Keep iterating: adjust your plans, your pace, and your participation until your holidays feel more like the gift you always wanted.

Thanks for Joining Us.
Pause and Presence | Actually Enjoy the Holidays

Keith and Laura explore how to move through the holidays and other busy seasons with intention, presence, and self‑care rather than simply “powering through.”

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The show notes were created with assistance from Perplexity AI, which helped generate and organize key points based on the podcast transcript.