By Holly Rohring (@heyitscounselorholly)
If you’ve ever found yourself stress-eating peppermint bark while staring at a calendar packed tighter than Santa’s workshop… welcome. You’re in good company.
The holiday season is supposed to be magical, but somehow it always turns into a marathon of events, obligations, shopping, and trying to remember which relative is allergic to what. And underneath all of that? Burnout- quietly waving from the corner like, “Hey, remember me?”
Burnout vs. Engagement: The Real Opposites
Burnout is that drained, hopeless feeling when your brain is basically running on the emotional equivalent of low-battery mode. Its opposite, engagement, is when you actually feel energized and connected to what you’re doing.
Fun fact: you cannot be engaged in life if you’re drowning in too many commitments. No one is “fully alive” while sprinting from event to event with a to-do list that multiplies like Christmas cookies.
Why Saying No Is Weirdly Joyful
We treat “no” like it’s a bad word, but honestly? It might just be the secret to enjoying your life again.
Wait, what?
Yes, saying “no” can actually be a good thing. If you use it in the right way.
Saying “no” creates margin.
Saying “no” protects your mental health.
Saying “no” means you get to show up to the things you actually care about without silently plotting your escape.
And during the holidays, saying “no” can become self-care with a bow on it- if you let it.
Boundaries: Your Holiday Season Survival Tool
The holidays love to tell us we must do everything. Go to all the gatherings! Say yes to every volunteer spot! Make twelve dozen cookies!
Meanwhile, burnout is like, “Please stop.”
But what if this year, instead of letting December chew you up and spit you out, you practiced saying “no” with confidence (and maybe a little sass)?
Because every time you say “no” to something draining, you say “yes” to something better–like rest, joy, or simply being able to feel your face again.
This holiday season, let your joy come from what you choose, not what you’re pressured into. You don’t have to do it all to be fully present. You don’t have to say yes to be valued. And you absolutely don’t have to run yourself into the ground to make the season meaningful.
Protect your peace.
Guard your energy.
And remember: every “no” creates space for a more intentional, joyful, wholehearted “yes.”
Reflection Questions
- What holiday commitments energize me, and which ones secretly make me want to hide in the pantry?
- Where do I need to give myself permission to say “no” this season?
- What would it look like to enter January feeling rested instead of wrecked?
About Holly Rohring
Holly Rohring (@heyitscounselorholly) has over 10 years of experience as an educator and has been working in the mental health field since 2019. She has worked with teens and families in PHP/IOP settings, providing her with experience in the following areas: suicidal ideation, self-harm, psychosis, depression, anxiety, behavioral issues, academic/school concerns, family dynamics, parent/child relationships, personality disorders, mood disorders, adjustment disorders, and couples therapy.
Holly’s areas of specialty include: Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Trauma-informed care, Exposure Response Prevention, Solution-Focused techniques, and Christian Counseling. She has the following trainings: Gottman Level 1 & Treating Affairs/Trauma, and Certified Clinical Anxiety Training.
In 2025, Holly and her twin sister, Heather Kell of Kell of a Plan, released their first Mental Health Journal. Intended for use individually or in tanedem with a counselor or therapist, the journal offers the following sections.
- Mental Health Weekly Check-Ins: Foster self-awareness and track your emotional well-being.
- Daily Mood Journaling: Use an emotion wheel and prompts to reflect on your feelings each day.
- Fighting Anxiety: Confront and process stressors with practical, calming tools.
- Gratitude Journaling: Cultivate a positive mindset through daily gratitude reflections.
- Coloring Sheets: Embrace mindfulness and relaxation with calming, creative outlets.
- Therapy Notes: A space to jot down key takeaways from therapy sessions or mental health insights.
Holly is a Licensed Professional Counselor who works to meet individuals and couples where they are. She believes that every client can build the life they desire and is passionate in aiding them to weather the storms of life.
