Avoiding Holiday Burnout: Keeping Your Inner Champion Active

Thanksgiving is supposed to be about gratitude, mashed potatoes, and pie. Reality often looks more like unsolicited advice, burnt rolls, and navigating a seating chart that feels like a United Nations summit. If you have ever ended the day feeling more frazzled than thankful, you are not alone. That is exactly why your Inner Champion deserves a front-row seat this Thanksgiving.

Your Inner Champion at the Table

Remember the Inner Champion from our series? It is not just for therapy sessions. Your champion can guide you through holiday chaos with the same calm, clever energy it brings to everyday life. It whispers: You are in control of your reactions. You get to decide your boundaries. You do not have to tolerate nonsense.

Strategies to Keep Your Champion Active

• Set Boundaries Early

  Before the turkey hits the table, decide what you will and will not tolerate. Maybe that means:

  • Politely declining a heated debate about politics.

  • Taking a quiet walk before dessert to reset.

  • Refusing to answer questions about your personal life.

  Your champion is your inner bodyguard. Use it wisely.

  
  

• Plan for Stress Moments

  Know your triggers and plan your exits. Maybe it is:

  • A bathroom break to regroup when conversation gets intense.

  • Sitting next to the cousin who always tells a funny story instead of the uncle who critiques everything.

  • Scheduling ten minutes alone after the meal to practice gratitude, deep breathing, or even just staring at the ceiling in peace.

    
    

• Inject Humor Liberally

  Humor is a secret weapon. Your champion thrives on it. Laugh at the burnt rolls. Laugh at Aunt Linda’s third attempt to discuss politics. Laugh at the absurdity of stuffing that exploded in the oven. Humor is not avoidance — it is empowerment.

  

  
  

• Celebrate Your Wins

  Did you enforce a boundary? Did you speak up calmly? Did you avoid arguing with someone impossible? Those are wins. Your champion applauds quietly, but notice it. Journaling small victories after the meal reinforces strength and resilience.

  
  

• Practice Realistic Gratitude

  You do not have to force happy thoughts. Your champion reminds you that gratitude is authentic when it reflects reality. You can be grateful for family while also being grateful for your car keys that let you escape the chaos when needed.

Your Takeaway

Thanksgiving does not have to drain your energy. With your Inner Champion active, you can:

• Navigate family drama without losing yourself.

• Protect your energy while still engaging meaningfully.

• Enjoy moments of joy, connection, and yes, pie.

  
  

This holiday, give yourself permission to show up empowered, calm, and assertive. Let your Inner Champion guide the way. After all, if it can survive therapy sessions, it can survive the mashed potatoes.

Reflect: What one strategy will your Inner Champion help you practice this Thanksgiving?