The holidays are fun… until they’re over and real life hits hard.
In this episode, Katie and Meagan talk about the post-holiday routine crash — the sugar overload, the lack of sleep, the missing structure, and the pushback that shows up when it’s time to get back on track.

From a therapist’s perspective (and real-life parenting experience), we unpack what’s happening in kids’ bodies and brains when routines disappear — and why easing back in works better than flipping a switch.

We share practical, realistic ways to reset family routines gently, manage pushback without power struggles, and set expectations that actually support your kids and you.

If you’re navigating the transition back to school, work, or “normal life,” this episode is a reminder that slow resets are not only okay — they’re effective.

January comes with so much pressure — to start strong, fix what feels broken, and somehow reinvent ourselves overnight. In this episode of But the Years Are Short, Katie and Meagan talk about why that pressure feels especially heavy for parents — and why it so often backfires.

Instead of rigid resolutions, they explore the power of intentions: smaller, values-based shifts that actually fit real family life. Together, they unpack why resolutions usually fizzle by February, how perfectionism and all-or-nothing thinking get in the way, and how self-compassion makes change more sustainable.

They also share practical ideas for reflecting on the past year, choosing intention words, and even creating a family intention — a simple, meaningful way to bring kids into the process without pressure or punishment.

If you’ve ever felt exhausted by New Year expectations, this episode offers a calmer, kinder way forward.

• Why New Year “reset” pressure doesn’t match real life

• The most common reasons resolutions fail by February

• Resolutions vs intentions: what’s the difference?

• How bandwidth and life season matter more than motivation

• Why self-compassion is key to sustainable change

• How intention-setting models flexibility and emotional health for kids

• Simple ways to reflect on what worked — and what drained you — last year

• How to create a family intention (without guilt or pressure)

  
  

  We created a simple 2026 Intention Worksheet to help you reflect on last year, identify what you want to keep, and choose intentions that fit your real life.

  👉 Grab the Worksheet here!

  
  

The holidays are magical… and also kind of a dumpster fire. 😅
In this episode, Katie and Meagan talk about the comparison trap — that sneaky holiday spiral where it feels like everyone else is doing more, gifting better, decorating prettier, and making more “core memories”… while you’re over here wrapping a giant present with painter’s tape and holding on by a thread.

We get real about the pressure to “make it magical,” how social media fuels scarcity thinking, why kids don’t actually remember the perfect stuff, and how to build traditions that don’t burn you out. Plus: a simple (and powerful) idea for choosing a values word for the season — so you can experience the holidays the way you actually want to.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The holiday comparison trap and why it hits so hard this time of year

• The pressure to create “perfect” memories, gifts, photos, pajamas, and traditions

• How social media quietly steals joy, presence, and emotional bandwidth

• Scarcity thinking: “I’m not doing enough… I’m not enough”

• Why more gifts don’t equal more connection (and what kids remember instead)

• The difference between connection vs. performance (and how kids can feel it)

• Traditions that energize vs. traditions that drain

• “Forced family fun” and low-pressure ways to build holiday togetherness

• A practical reframe: setting expectations that fit your real family

• • Choosing a “values word” for the season (calm, connection, togetherness, etc.)

  
  

  You’ll walk away with:

  • Permission to simplify (without guilt)

  • A clear filter for “Is this for connection or for performance?”

  • A reminder that kids remember presence, not perfection

  • A way to pick traditions that feel sustainable (not exhausting)

  • A simple intention-setting practice to guide the next two weeks

    Download the worksheet here: https://awesome-unit-60406.myflodesk.com/nslacwby3e

    
    

    📲 Hang out with us on Instagram:
    https://www.instagram.com/buttheyearsareshortpodcast/

    🌐 Learn more about the podcast:
    https://buttheyearsareshortpodcast.com/

    👋 Work with us:

    • Meagan’s counseling practice: https://meaganjacksoncounseling.com/

    • Katie’s consulting & counseling work: https://www.katiezconsulting.com/