What if self-care this season wasn’t about doing more… but choosing what actually restores you?

In this episode of Chasing Brighter, Jessica and Kelly dive into one of the most important (and misunderstood) topics of the season: holiday self-care that truly nourishes your mind, body, and spirit — not the kind that leaves you feeling overstimulated and depleted.

The holidays pull on every part of us: schedules, emotions, finances, expectations, and family dynamics. With all the lights, noise, crowds, and invisible emotional labor, it’s easy to slip into numbing coping strategies instead of nurturing ones. In this conversation, Jessica and Kelly help you understand the difference — without shame — so you can listen to what your body actually needs.

You’ll explore how over-stimulation impacts your nervous system, why even joyful moments can feel draining when they pile up, and how to gently shift toward self-care practices that leave you calmer, steadier, and more grounded.

Inside This Conversation:

• The difference between nourishing self-care vs. numbing coping
• Why holiday over-stimulation impacts your nervous system
• Common numbing habits (and why they’re human, not failures)
• Examples of nourishing rituals that restore your energy
• Why heat therapy (baths, foot soaks, warm showers) can be especially soothing
• Signs you may be numbing instead of nurturing
• The “Nourish Me Check-In”: a simple 3-part self-care reset
• Boundary scripts that protect your peace during the holidays
• A gentle weekly challenge to support your wellbeing

Chapters

00:00 Embracing Holiday Self-Care

01:17 NEWCHAPTER

03:31 Nourishing vs. Numbing Strategies

06:30 Recognizing Signs of Numbing

09:22 Implementing Self-Care Practices

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