Being “Ready for Christmas” When You Have ADHD

Every year, around this time, the same pressure starts to build.

The lists.

The wrapping.

The food shopping.

The social calendar that suddenly looks like a marathon.

The unspoken expectation that you should somehow transform into a highly organised, festive version of yourself… overnight.

For many of us with ADHD, December doesn’t feel like a gentle slide into twinkly lights and cosy films. It feels like trying to run through cold treacle while everyone else seems to be gliding.

There’s so much to remember, so much to organise, and so many tiny details that become “urgent” all at once.

And then comes the comparison. The perfectly decorated homes, the early shoppers, the colour-coordinated wrapping, the matching PJs, the people who appear to glide through December effortlessly.

The truth

But here’s the truth I want you to hear:

You don’t need to do Christmas like anyone else.
You don’t need to match someone else’s pace, energy or preparation style.
You don’t even need to feel festive.

Sometimes being “ready for Christmas” looks like:

• Buying a few presents and calling it a day

• Doing things last-minute because that’s how your brain actually works - we need the dopamine to kick in to get things done

• Choosing which social plans you genuinely want to attend - rather than because you feel you ‘have’ to

• Saying no to anything (and anyone!) that drains you

• Letting your Christmas be simple, quiet, gentle or beautifully imperfect

Our ADHD brains are not faulty, they’re just wired differently

December asks a lot of them.

The constant switching.
The emotional load.
The sensory overwhelm.
The endless decision-making.
And that strange pressure to be on form all the time.

So this year, I want you to know:

You get to set the tone for your Christmas, not tradition, not pressure, not expectation.

If your Christmas has fewer moving parts, fewer commitments, fewer stressors — that’s not “less than.”
That’s alignment. That’s understanding what your brain needs.

If you need more rest and fewer demands that’s not being “behind.”
That’s respecting your brain.

If the only thing you achieve on your to-do list today is one small step forward — that is still progress.

Pick one thing.
Do one thing.
Celebrate one thing.

You’re doing brilliantly even if it doesn’t feel like it

And if your Christmas turns out last-minute, imperfect, non-traditional, or completely chaotic in places…
you’re still allowed to enjoy it.
You’re still allowed peace.
You’re still allowed kindness — especially towards yourself.

Because the real truth is this:

Your wellbeing matters more than any expectation, any tradition, any to-do list, any “should.”

And if you need community, support, and a space where you don’t have to explain why things feel harder this time of year…

My Christmas looks like no visitors on the big day, my son eating Nutella sandwiches as we eat a Christmas lunch and my daughter having her own gravy boat and no cooked vegetables, as that’s what she needs.

---

A gentle invitation for women with ADHD

If you’re newly diagnosed, late diagnosed, or simply trying to understand your ADHD a little better and you want a space that feels supportive rather than overwhelming, especially at this time of year my Thrive membership might be exactly what you need right now.

It’s just £11 a month and inside you’ll find:

• A weekly coffee morning (calm, friendly and zero pressure) usually at 10am GMT

• Practical tips, lived experience and support

• A space where you can talk, or just listen — both are completely fine

• A community of women who get it

• A kind and supportive Whatsapp group

• No judgement, no expectations, no overwhelm

Especially at this time of year, it can make such a difference to have a place where your brain feels understood and you don’t have to mask.

If you’d like to join us or simply explore what it’s about, you’re so welcome.

Join here.

And remember please be kind to yourself. It’s the greatest gift you can give this year.