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25. The One About Surviving the Silly Season
13 Plays2 days ago
In this week’s episode, Victoria chats about the time of year that always seems to arrive faster than any of us expect - Term Four, Christmas, New Year, and the beautiful chaos that comes with it. Instead of getting swept up in the rush, she shares practical, simple ways to finish 2025 feeling grounded, organised, and present.
Whether you’re managing school events, end-of-year work deadlines, family celebrations, or the mental load of gift-giving, this episode offers gentle reminders and realistic strategies to make this season lighter.
What We Explore
✨ Why the end of the year can feel like a blur, and how to slow it down
✨ The power of taking just minutes a day to reset your nervous system
✨ A reality check on whether everything really needs to happen before Christmas
✨ Planning ahead without pressure - small steps that make a big difference
✨ Easy ways to reduce the mental load (like Secret Santa, delegating food, or shared gift pools)
✨ Letting go of the tiny details that don’t actually matter
✨ Staying present so you can actually enjoy the celebrations, not just survive them
✨ Flipping “I have to…” into “I get to…” to shift the energy of the season
Practical Tips From the Episode
✔ Take a few minutes for yourself each morning - no phone, just breathe and reset
✔ Write a gift list in your phone as ideas come up
✔ Start your carts early and revisit when you’re ready
✔ Plan teacher or staff gifts now to avoid last-minute stress
✔ Delegate Christmas food - everyone brings a dish
✔ Ask for help rather than carrying everything alone
✔ Release perfectionism over tiny details that don’t matter in the long run
✔ Remind yourself of the joy, connection, and privilege of this season
Why This Episode Matters
This time of year is meant to be joyful - but often becomes rushed, pressured, and exhausting. With a few intentional decisions and mindset shifts, we can reclaim it as a season of connection, presence, and calm.
Share Your Ideas
Have a tip that makes the season easier in your household?
Victoria would love to hear it!
Comment on the episode post on socials or send an email so we can share ideas with the community.
- Website: www.victoria-r.com.au
- Instagram: @the.victoria.r
- Email: hello@victoria-r.com.au
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Transcript
Reflections on Year-End and Personal Well-being
00:00:37
Victoria R
Hello, welcome to the Mindful Educator podcast. I'm so happy that you're able to join me. Oh, so we are flying towards the end of the year. I actually can't believe it. Like it's, what are we now?
00:00:49
Victoria R
November. And it's going to be the end of the year and the start of 2026 before we know it. So i guess I just wanted to talk a little bit about the the year that has been and what we can kind of do to really finish 2025 good Because let's be honest, term four is normally pretty busy anyway.
00:01:11
Victoria R
And then we throw in Christmas and New Year's and everything's just kind of a blur. And then before we know it, kids are going back to school and it's February. And we're like, where have the last few months gone? So as I mentioned, it is a busy time of year that we're approaching.
00:01:28
Victoria R
But there were a few things that I would really like us to be able to focus on just to ensure that we're kind of staying grounded within ourselves, that we're staying focused on putting out ourselves and our health first as we're approaching this time of year and just so we don't kind of completely lose our minds as well.
Holiday Planning and Stress Reduction
00:01:51
Victoria R
So one of the things that I would suggest is each day just taking – a few moments for yourself, wherever you can fit that in. That might be just five minutes in the morning, not looking at your phone as you wake up and just laying a bed and just taking a few deep breaths before you start your day or just even laying there and thinking about what you want your day to look and feel like.
00:02:17
Victoria R
If you have a lot on your plate, are there some things that you can perhaps delay for a little bit? Is there things that you could reschedule? if things are looking a little bit too hectic at different times, I think we often are like, oh, I've got cram everything in before Christmas and New Year's, thinking that actually some things can just wait.
00:02:38
Victoria R
Some things aren't that much of a priority. Yes, we need to make sure that certain things are done by a certain time. That's totally normal. But are there things that actually can just wait until after the New Year?
00:02:50
Victoria R
You know, do we have to fit all these appointments in beforehand? Or can we just wait till January? so just have a bit of it a realistic look at what you're doing and just go, yeah, all right. What can be reshuffled around to fit in with this busy time of year?
00:03:08
Victoria R
Another thing I would suggest is just try and start planning ahead. So with things like, you know, Christmas shopping, with things like making plans for Christmas parties, this, that and everything else, what can you actually start preparing for?
00:03:24
Victoria R
Can you just start, you know, as you're thinking of or if you hear someone say that, oh, this is something I would like for Christmas or this or that, just start writing a notes section in your phone and just add it to that.
00:03:35
Victoria R
so that you can come back to it at different time. Start those shopping carts. so you know, start adding things into it. Again, you can kind of come back, add some, all the rest of it. We kind of get such a sense of urgency that everything needs to be done straight away.
00:03:50
Victoria R
Whereas we can kind of, you know, we still got a little bit of time before we kind of hit that. all right, wait nothing's going to be arriving in the post in time. We've still got plenty of time before that.
00:04:01
Victoria R
And as we know, a lot of the time, the mail and everything kind of amp up their levels as well as we get closer to Christmas because they're aware the demand that is needed as well.
Managing Events and Expectations
00:04:13
Victoria R
When it comes to things for school, Obviously some things will probably be non-negotiable. I know there's going to be a lot of end-of-year parties, there's going to be the concerts, there's all these types of things.
00:04:26
Victoria R
So on those days that those are happening, can we just relax and chill out for those those days and get ourselves just as ready as we need to be without rushing off to all these things?
00:04:39
Victoria R
With work do's, I know um one thing that we often do for my husband's work is we actually try and do it in January because we've just found... November and December, it just doesn't happen. it is, like I said, it's such a busy time of year with everyone trying to cram everything in.
00:04:54
Victoria R
And for us, it's actually worked out really well. We just do it in January when that rush is over. People are kind of, it gives them something to look forward to as well after um you kind of have that bit of a letdown after the silly season, so to speak.
00:05:10
Victoria R
um And it gives us a chance to actually enjoy the celebrations as well instead of feeling like it's just another thing on the to-do list. And so i think we really need to make sure we're looking after ourselves during this time as well because, as I said, it is ah people wanting us here, there and everywhere.
00:05:28
Victoria R
And we just need to go, all right, where can I actually just make sure I'm putting myself as a priority in terms of all this? Can I delegate anything to someone else? Does that all have to be me organising it all or can other people do so?
00:05:45
Victoria R
Because I think, you know, other people able to pick up the slack and I think if we ask for that help more often than not people are more than happy to do it and you know that's things like you know even teacher presence and things like that if you're if that's what something that you do is there other people that you can go in with you know can you all kind of put in a pool and um a couple of you organize it together so there are ways of kind of approaching this in a in a manner that
Simplifying Holiday Gift-Giving and Preparations
00:06:10
Victoria R
doesn't leave everything to you and also just releasing some expectations as well it
00:06:17
Victoria R
I know watching people organize a few different things, people get really caught up on the finer details that at the end of the day, it actually doesn't really matter if that was in that font or this font or that color or this color.
00:06:34
Victoria R
It's not going to make a difference.
00:06:37
Victoria R
Yes, it may be bothering but it's not really bothering anyone else. It's still getting the point across. It's still showing what it needs to show. Do we need to worry ourselves about these smaller details that probably aren't really going to matter in the end?
00:06:53
Victoria R
um So just kind of keep that in mind as you're moving through as well. Is it really important or is it something that I can just kind of let slide? I know as well for us, we often do Secret Santa um to help in terms of presents. So we're not having to buy for Numerous people we ended up just having to buy for a couple of people and we've actually started doing this um with the children as well. So the cousins get to buy for each other. They get um to choose someone out of the hut to be their secret Santa.
00:07:25
Victoria R
And it really, it helps not only with the mental load, it also helps with the cost of things as well. And that way you're also just putting um putting the effort on getting a really good quality present for that person as well, instead of lots of really crappy presents that perhaps aren't necessarily going to last very long.
00:07:44
Victoria R
So that's something that you can look at doing as well. um Like I said, I love Secret Santa. I love doing it with the families. It just, yeah, it is a huge weight lifted um when it comes to present buying because that's often something that, you know, this time year you'll be like, oh, my gosh, so many presents to buy.
00:08:04
Victoria R
um And just start, if there's things that you can start ticking off the list now, just start doing it. You know, everyone's like, oh, it's still so far away. And it's like, it is, but it's not. And we can just tick off things that, um you know,
00:08:17
Victoria R
Perhaps you're looking at getting teacher gifts if that's something that you do. What's to say you can't buy them now? Why do you have to wait until the very last minute? I know um for me I've organised what we're going to do this year and i usually try and do something um ah try and do something that's actually going to be of benefit um to the teachers. So i know previously like I've, what have we done? We've done like personalised stamps for the teachers.
00:08:46
Victoria R
What are we doing as well? We've done, oh gosh, we've done lots of things and I'm struggling to think of them all. You know, there might be vouchers for a place that you know that they love. So if there's a coffee shop that they frequent, you can get them perhaps a voucher for the coffee shop or, you know, it can even just be as simple as that. It doesn't have to be huge um monetary value present at all. It can be something just as sweet as a picture of them and when your child together.
00:09:12
Victoria R
It could be a really heartfelt thank you note. Um, It really just depends on on the teacher, on your budget, on what suits you to give those teachers.
00:09:24
Victoria R
Either way, going to be so appreciated, you know. And then when it comes to other things that need to be done, things like Christmas Day itself, everyone, oh, my gosh, the panic over Christmas Day, the panic over the food on Christmas Day, ah lot of the time,
00:09:43
Victoria R
It's something that can be delegated. It's something that can everyone can contribute to it as well. It doesn't anymore have to be that one person slaving away in the kitchen all Christmas Eve and all Christmas Day to get the food out for everyone.
00:09:55
Victoria R
More often than not, you can just say, can you please bring this? Can you please bring this? Everyone brings something along. bam, you've got a Christmas lunch. It makes it a lot more manageable for everyone involved.
00:10:08
Victoria R
And it also means, you know, it's not very fair just leaving all this to one person. and So that way, at least everyone is contributing, everyone is taking some of the load off that one person, whoever might be hosting, and everyone can enjoy the day for what it's meant to be.
00:10:25
Victoria R
which is being together with those that you love in that time.
Mindfulness and Gratitude During Holidays
00:10:30
Victoria R
So like I said, there's lots of different ways to approach this time of year.
00:10:36
Victoria R
There are lots of different things that you can do. i'm sure other people have amazing suggestions as well as to how we can kind of just ease that load and that um craziness of this time of year. And I'd love to hear it if you do, because Like I said, these are just some of the suggestions that I have and things that I have tried that have worked.
00:10:55
Victoria R
And I know that there are a lot of other people out there that have got things that work really well for them and their families and their friends too. So please, I would love you to share. So if there's anything else you can think of that can ease the pressure, let me know.
00:11:10
Victoria R
In the meantime, I would love for you to just focus on taking some time for yourself every single day. right. Whether that be two minutes, five minutes, whatever. All right, just take some time for yourself, even if it's simply just stopping and taking a few deep breaths.
00:11:27
Victoria R
right, as I mentioned earlier, even if it's just planning your day in your mind or just having a moment before you even get out of bed or before you even look at your phone. All right, let's just take these small little pockets of time to really help us stay grounded, to really help us stay focused.
00:11:45
Victoria R
right, and it also helps us stay really calm as well. All right, we don't want to be panicking and getting ourselves all worked up because that's all that's going to do is raise the stress levels of everyone around us and it's going to make it a not so enjoyable time of year when it can actually be.
00:12:02
Victoria R
It is amazing when we see the joy that the kids get from Christmas time, from New Year's, from all this. It is just honestly, it makes it so worth it. And we want to also be really present with all these things that are happening with the Christmas parties, with the Christmas concerts, with whatever else is coming up.
00:12:22
Victoria R
We actually want to be present and enjoy that time, right? Enjoy that moment. We don't want to be at these events and thinking about our to-do list that may be a mile long.
00:12:34
Victoria R
That's going to zap the joy straight out of it. We really just want to be grounded in that moment, enjoying the people that we are with, enjoying the situation that we're in or the event that we're at.
00:12:46
Victoria R
And I think we really need to remind ourselves of that. Yes, things may there may be a lot coming up, but also awesome that there is so much coming up.
00:12:57
Victoria R
How much of an abundance of love and connection and friendship is surrounding us in these times? You know, if we can flip that script a little bit and go I get to be with all these people, not I have to, but i get to be with all these people. I get to see my family. I get to see my children opening presents on Christmas day.
00:13:21
Victoria R
i get to thank the teachers or the employees or whoever it is that has helped me out throughout the year. We get to do these things that really fill our cup.
00:13:32
Victoria R
If we can just kind of change that, that script in the way that we speak about it, it can make a really big difference as to how we approach it as well. So i like I said, as you're kind of coming into the next few weeks, as we're getting closer to Christmas, I'd love if you can just remember what we've gone through here.
00:13:50
Victoria R
Remember that you get to have this amazing time with those in your life. And that is pretty awesome. It goes to tell us just how rich we really are when we have got these sorts of connections and um in our everyday life. so make sure that you enjoy them.
00:14:06
Victoria R
All right. I'd love to hear any suggestions that you may have for making this time of year a little bit easier for you. If you found something that works really well, please pop it in the comments when I post it on the socials or else just email me and I'll share it as well.
00:14:21
Victoria R
Otherwise, enjoy the next few months. Enjoy as we're heading towards Christmas and Year's and I hope that your life is abundantly full of all these wonderful opportunities that are coming up in the next few months to celebrate with those loved ones in your life.
00:14:39
Victoria R
All right, have an amazing day. i will speak to you soon.