If you are tired of being told the holidays are supposed to be restful,or you're working harder than ever while everyone else seems to be winding down, or you're already exhausted and it's only December then this episode is for you.

In this episode, we're breaking down the myth of the holiday slowdown and why high-achieving women actually go into overdrive during this time of year. You'll learn what's really happening in your nervous system when you're stuck in "productivity override," why you can't just will yourself to relax, and the somatic signs that you're running on empty. Plus, I'm sharing a few practical tools you can use right now to actually downshift, even in the middle of the chaos.

Sign-up for the Out-Of-Office somatic coaching workshop on 12/7: https://luma.com/0cdadd7j

Connect with me:

• Resources: https://www.shanettamcdonald.com/free
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamshanettamcdonald/
• Newsletter sign-up: https://shanetta.substack.com/

The holidays can bring up a lot. Food overwhelm, family dynamics, old wounds, and the pressure to be “on” when our bodies are asking for something entirely different. In this episode, I’m sharing my honest experience with holiday gatherings growing up, how Thanksgiving became especially difficult during my eating disorder, and why the season still feels complicated for me today — especially being estranged from my parents and living far from my family.

Whether you love holiday gatherings or dread them, this conversation offers grounded ways to move through the season with more agency and nervous-system peace. I walk you through practical tools to help you support yourself around food, family, and social expectations — from envisioning your ideal holiday, to setting a plan before you walk into a gathering, to honoring your “no” without guilt.

Sign-up for Out-Of-Office: https://luma.com/0cdadd7j

Connect with me:

• Resources: https://www.shanettamcdonald.com/free
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamshanettamcdonald/
• Newsletter sign-up: https://shanetta.substack.com/

This week, our guest is someone whose honesty is transforming how we talk about recovery, shame, and self-acceptance.

Laura Cathcart Robbins is the best-selling author of Stash: My Life in Hiding, a memoir about her journey through addiction to alcohol and Ambien, and the courage it took to tell the truth about it. She’s also the host of The Only One in the Room podcast, where she’s shared stories of other voices who’ve felt unseen or alone in their experiences.

In our conversation, Laura and I talk about how storytelling becomes a vehicle for recovery, what self-evolution actually looks like, and why truth-telling can be one of the most healing acts of all.

If you’ve ever felt like you had to keep it together or play a part just to be loved, this episode is for you. Laura’s story is a reminder that freedom begins where hiding ends, and that recovery, in all its forms, starts with radical self-honesty.

Connect with Laura:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauracathcartrobbins/?hl=en

Connect with me:

• Resources: https://www.shanettamcdonald.com/free
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamshanettamcdonald/
• Newsletter sign-up: https://shanetta.substack.com/