Holiday stress and shopping anxiety reveal deeper pressures around obligation and worth. These five awareness-based shifts help restore calm and clarity.

One year ago, tears streamed onto the massage table as I shared the misery I felt during the 2024 holiday season. I vowed not to repeat that funk in December 2025. I first explored options to go away ...

Discover gentle home remedies, teas, essential oils, and lifestyle tips to reduce holiday stress and support relaxation naturally during the busiest season.

How do we deal with infuriating family fanatics?  When we are afraid, angry, and even hurt, how do we love people we don’t even like that much? What does that mean, and what does it not mean?

These Food & Climate Numbers Will Shock You | Karel Cast 25-167 What would it actually take for your state to be food-self-sufficient? How much food — and especially meat — would the United States have to produce just to feed itself? The answers are staggering, and they reveal why climate change, agriculture, and what we eat are deeply connected — whether we want to admit it or not. These numbers don’t just challenge our assumptions, they expose how fragile the food system really is. So yes, eat, drink, and be merry this holiday season — but understand this: you are not alone, and the choices we make collectively matter more than ever. Plus, let’s talk about the emotional side of the holidays. They can be joyful… but also stressful. What holiday pet peeves drive you crazy? Crowds? Family drama? Travel chaos? Odds are, we share more than a few. And to balance it out: what are the things worth loving this season? The moments, the people, the small joys that make it all worthwhile. The Karel Cast is supported by your donations at patreon.com/reallykarel. Please like, subscribe, and share at youtube.com/reallykarel. Catch The Karel Cast Monday–Thursday at 10:30am PST on Apple Music, iHeart Media, Spotify, Spreaker, TikTok, and Instagram. #KarelCast, #FoodSecurity, #ClimateChange, #SustainableFood, #MeatConsumption, #ClimateCrisis, #FoodSystem, #HolidaySeason, #HolidayStress, #HolidayPetPeeves, #FoodProduction, #EnvironmentalImpact, #DietAndClimate, #USFoodSupply, #PopCultureTalk, #ProgressiveVoices, #SocialIssues, #NewsCommentary, #LGBTQCreators, #LasVegasCreator https://youtube.com/live/gB4ZdO9dlkE

Holiday stress feels unavoidable, but it is not random, and it is not a personal failure. In this episode, the realities of holiday stress are broken down, including why stress feels amplified this ti...

Why do the holidays feel heavier this year? Explore how global uncertainty, expectations, and emotional contrast shape the season—and why it’s not your fault.

Holiday stress and shopping anxiety reveal deeper pressures around obligation and worth. These five awareness-based shifts help restore calm and clarity.

Holiday stress can exacerbate symptoms, writes columnist Natalie Sirota. But turning down activities can also be misinterpreted.