For anyone who needs a reminder: The holidays are not a performance review. While this time of year can be joyful, it can also be complicated. (Yes, holiday stress and depression are very real.) Wherever you’re landing this week, we hope you’re giving yourself a little grace. Remember, life isn’t measured in greatest hits or wrapped stats (although, if you need a laugh, watch this SNL Uber Eats Wrapped skit.)
So, consider this your permission slip to put your phone down and embrace the in-between. Real life will still be there waiting for us on the other side.
Finally… We're taking our advice and engaging in some schedule-free time as well. We’re skipping our Dec 31 send, but we’ll be back in your inbox on Jan 7. See you in 2026.
If there’s one wellness habit worth obsessing over in 2026, it’s not protein math, step counts, or that green powder you got from your FitTok-obsessed neighbor. It’s sleep. Yup, the thing you cancel first when life gets busy might actually be the most powerful lever you have. A new study found that sleep quality may have a bigger impact on how long you live than diet or exercise.
Oof. Why? Because sleep isn’t optional. It helps your systems repair and recover, allows your brain to rest, and gives your body a chance to effectively conserve and store energy. Less sleep, and your body has to adapt, often by raising stress hormones, increasing inflammation, disrupting blood sugar regulation, and dulling cognitive function.
Oh, and also: Women need more sleep than menand experience unique sleep struggles due to hormonal fluctuations. Factor in stress, caregiving, and the pressure to be “on” all the time, and you’ve got a perfect storm for chronic exhaustion that’s easy to normalize and hard to fix.
That said… Everything from perimenopause to having to, I don’t know, put together a five-million-piece toy tonight can interfere with your sleep routine. But it may not just be life. It could be sleep apnea — a condition that up to 90% of women with symptoms don’t realize they have, in part because it often shows up differently than it does in men — and frequently gets misdiagnosed in women as depression or menopause.
For Your Sanity:
Romanticize your bedtime. Same way you’d protect a workout class or dinner plans, put a soft fence around your sleep window. Notifications off. Group chats muted. The world can wait. And once you’re in bed? Try the “4-7-8” method to actually conk out.
Fix the low-hanging fruit. Wrong pillow, too much light, bedroom too warm — these are small tweaks with outsized returns. If your neck hurts or you wake up cranky, take this 30-second pillow quiz to get the right support.
Track what’s really waking you up. Night sweats, racing thoughts, bathroom trips, shoulder pain: These are all clues. Bring them up to your doctor if you notice a pattern.
Q: What's a symptom I shouldn't blame on stress or aging?
"Persistent fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest is something I wish patients wouldn’t brush off. There’s a difference between 'I need a vacation' tired and 'I can’t get through my day even after sleeping' tired. If it lasts more than a few weeks despite good sleep — and starts interfering with things you normally enjoy — it could signal thyroid issues, anemia, vitamin deficiencies, or early signs of autoimmune conditions."
It’s that no rules week. Your reps might feel more centered on opening the fridge than lifting weights and the only laps you have time for are probably around the kitchen island.
Don’t sweat it. A break from your normal fitness routine is totally fine. But adding these not-really-workouts into your day can improve your mood, digestion, and sleep. Bonus: They can even be done while locked in the guest bathroom when you just need a second.
Don’t bother getting out of your PJs for this 8-minute Pilates stretch. You’ll be done before your coffee’s finished brewing.
Whether you’re hunched from carrying holiday shopping bags or the weight of making this the most wonderful time of the year, these six posture moves can help straighten you out.
Wear all the ugly sweaters you want, the real MVPs of the holiday season (and beyond) are compression socks. Ideal for travel or when you’re on your feet all day, they help fight swelling and soreness so you’re still standing tall in 2026.
