December can feel like a full body experience when you are a woman in midlife, especially if you are navigating peri or menopause and/or living with a neurodivergent brain. The extra noise, the added pressure and the constant demands of the festive season can land more heavily than usual, I know they certainly do for me. Our minds feel full, our nervous system feels sensitive and our energy can fluctuate without warning.

The world expects us to keep moving at the same pace as everyone else, while our body and brain are asking for something completely different. More rest. More space. More gentleness.

A slow, soft December is not only possible. It is supportive. And I'm going to talk you through it.

For many neurodivergent women and women in peri/menopause, digital overwhelm can hit harder than it used to. Notifications feel like interruptions that jolt the nervous system and disrupt our focus. The continuous kessages across various platforms can be overwhelming ajd the pressure that If I dont reply to a message immediately, it is gone from my memory forever. Social media can heighten comparison, pressure, social expections and emotional exhaustion.

Digital boundaries are not just helpful at this stage of life. They are protective and necessary. They reduce the sensory noise and mental clutter that make your days feel scattered.

Here are some gentle, realistic boundaries that make a noticeable difference:

1. Turn off non essential notifications
If your phone is constantly lighting up it is almost impossible for your nervous system to settle. Reduce the digital noise so your brain can breathe.

2. Keep your phone out of the bedroom
Hormonal changes can disrupt sleep, and even a quick scroll can switch your mind back on. Use a simple alarm clock and protect your rest as much as possible.

3. Clear the digital clutter
Many neurodivergent women carry thousands of unread emails or dozens of open chats because it feels too overwhelming to tackle. Try out my gentle guide to digital detoxing, to rid yourself of the tech-clutter. Clear unused group chats. 

4. Create set check in times
Task switching is harder for both midlife and neurodivergent brains. Checking messages at random moments keeps you in a constant state of alertness. Give yourself contained pockets of time instead, so your attention stays steady.

Midlife can be an emotionally tender chapter. You may feel more easily overwhelmed. Your tolerance might shift. You might find yourself forgetting things, losing track or running out of energy faster than usual. If you are neurodivergent you may notice these changes even more intensely and potentially find yourself between the rise and fall of burnout. 

It is the permission to respond to yourself with softness instead of criticism. It is understanding that your brain and body are doing a lot for you behind the scenes. It is recognising that you are not failing. You are adapting.

Some compassionate reminders for December:

• Your energy is not the same every day and that is okay
• You are allowed to prioritise rest without explanation
• Hormonal shifts can affect focus, memory and emotion
• Sensory overwhelm is real and worthy of care
• You do not have to meet everyone’s needs at the cost of your own

Try my free self-compassion challenge, to allow yourself one tiny moment each day of compassion. Doing it for thirty days will instil it into your routine, and it will soon become a habit. I know habits are hard to keep and the pressure of doing something repetetively can be tricky. Just set a reminder daily and try one activity and check in with yourself and see how it improves your wellbeing. 

Digital boundaries reduce the external overwhelm.
Self compassion soothes the internal overwhelm.

They create a season that feels softer on your nervous system and kinder to your mind. You move through December with more space, more clarity and more steadiness. You notice your limits sooner and honour them without guilt. You protect the parts of you that are healing, shifting or simply tired.

A slow, soft December is not about shrinking your life. It is about shaping the season in a way that supports your wellbeing. More calm. More presence. More moments where you actually feel you.

If December feels overstimulating, emotional or draining this year, take this as your cue to soften everything you can. Protect your peace with digital boundaries, try my digital detox. Hold yourself with the compassion you often reserve for others, and use the challenge to allow yourself the time for it. Create a rhythm that honours your mind, your body and the season of life you are in.

You deserve a December that feels spacious, not overwhelming.
Soft, not stressful.
Supportive, not draining.

A slow, soft December is waiting for you. And you are worthy of experiencing it.