Little Joys, Big Feelings: Finding Comfort During the Holiday Season
If you’re on a fertility journey, the holiday season can bring a mix of feelings that don’t always make sense together — joy alongside grief, hope brushed up against uncertainty, moments of warmth followed by sudden heaviness. There’s no “right” way to feel during the holidays. You might genuinely enjoy parts of the season while also feeling tired, tender, or disconnected. You might feel stable one day and overwhelmed the next. All of it is valid.
Instead of trying to “fix” how the season feels, it may help to instead focus on creating small moments of comfort and peace when possible.
Finding Comfort in Simple Rituals
When so much feels out of your control, small rituals can offer a sense of steadiness. These don’t need to be grand or complex. They can be simple, physical, and grounding.
For example, you might light a candle in the evening and sit with it for a few quiet minutes. You might journal without a goal, just letting thoughts land on the page without editing them. Cooking or baking a familiar recipe can feel grounding, something you know by heart.
Some people find comfort in writing a letter to themselves, to the year they’re leaving behind, or even to a future child they’re holding space for. You don’t have to know when or how things will unfold to honor the love and intention that already exists.
They’re about giving your body and mind a moment to rest and settle.
Making Room for Stillness and Delight
The holidays often come with pressure to attend everything, respond to every message, and be present in ways that feel performative. But it’s more than okay to step back when needed.
Carving out moments of stillness might look like saying no to an extra gathering, taking a quiet walk, or spending an afternoon doing something that has nothing to do with the season at all. Stillness doesn’t have to be silent or meditative. It can be watching a familiar movie, organizing a drawer, or sitting by a window with a cup of tea.
Delight doesn’t have to be big, either. It can be noticing the way cold air feels on your face, listening to your favorite song on repeat, or laughing at something unexpectedly small. These moments don’t erase grief or longing, but they can exist alongside them.
Letting Yourself Feel What You Feel
If there’s one thing the holidays tend to challenge, it’s emotional honesty. You may feel internal and/or external pressure to “stay hopeful,” “be grateful,” or “look on the bright side.” While hope can be meaningful, so can sadness, frustration, and fatigue. Honoring your emotions isn’t indulgent or dramatic. It’s an act of care. Pretending things are easier than they are often takes more energy than simply acknowledging the truth of how you’re feeling.
You don’t have to label your emotions neatly. You don’t have to explain them to anyone else. You don’t even have to fully understand them. Allowing yourself to feel what’s present without judgment is enough.
Care That Meets You Where You Are
If the holidays feel especially heavy this year, you don’t have to carry that alone. At The Prelude Network®, we understand that fertility care is about more than tests and timelines — it’s also about supporting you through the emotional side of this process. Whether you’re looking for answers, reassurance, or simply a place to talk things through, our team is here to meet you with care, clarity, and compassion — during the holidays and beyond.