Over the 2024 Christmas holiday season, I was very concerned about my weight. I kept checking, fretting, and thinking, “Oh jeez, yet another big meal. I’ll have to reduce food intake immediately in the new year.” It wasn’t a massive damper on the time off by any means, but it was present all throughout.
Last year, I wasn’t worried about my weight at all. I felt good about it going in and knew I could always reduce a bit after if needed. Ergo, I simply enjoyed the holidays, right? No.
Instead, in 2025, I was concerned about various end-of-year projects. I wanted to do my annual review, pick a new theme, create a proper friends rolodex and collect people’s addresses, catch up on book reviews, prep some newsletters, and write several articles—all over the course of 10 or so days while also being in holiday mode. I knew I wasn’t gonna be able to do it all, but still, every morning, I checked my various lists and thought about what to slot in where in-between eating with family, gaming, and going for a walk or meeting some friends. Once again, it wasn’t a big downer, but there was definitely a small gray cloud hanging around in the background all the time.
In hindsight, both were unnecessary sources of apprehension, of course. But this is what we do, isn’t it? We rotate concerns. If one reason to worry isn’t available, we draw on another, just to make sure we stay a little bit on edge.
Notice your nervousness. Is it real? Or did you slot a new disc of doubt into your emotional jukebox for no purpose other than preventing the music from stopping?
There are few enough periods free of stress. Learn to enjoy the quiet—and keep your reservations for restaurants and real problems.
