The Neurospicy Guide to Surviving the “Most Wonderful” Time of the Year 🎄✨
Ah, the holidays.
According to the movies, it’s a time of peace, joy, and gently falling snow. According to my nervous system, it’s a time of flashing strobe lights, Mariah Carey playing on a loop at 100 decibels, and aggressive hugs from relatives I haven’t seen since 2019.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the concept of the holidays. But the reality? It’s a sensory minefield.
Between the disruption of routine, the “Texture Roulette” of holiday food, and the sheer amount of masking required to get through a family dinner, it’s basically the Olympics of Executive Function.
If you’re already feeling the burnout creeping in, don’t panic. Here is your official Spectrum Threadz Survival Guide to making it through the season without melting down under the Christmas tree.
1. Ditch the “Festive” Itch
Who decided that holiday fashion should involve sequins (scratchy), wool (itchy), and stiff collars (choking hazard)?
Here is a radical permission slip: You do not have to wear the uncomfortable thing.
Grandma might want a photo of everyone in matching plaid, but if that plaid feels like sandpaper, it’s a hard pass. You can look festive without sacrificing your skin. Stick to your safe fabrics.
- Pro Tip: If you need “emotional support armor,” our Sensory-Friendly Hoodies are fleece-lined clouds of safety. You can hide in the hood when things get too much. Just saying.
2. Manage Your Social Battery Like It’s Your Phone
You wouldn’t leave your house with your phone at 4% battery, yet we often walk into parties with our social battery already flashing red.
Small talk is exhausting. Answering “So, what are you doing with your life?” for the tenth time is exhausting.
Be proactive. If you feel your battery draining, don’t wait for the shutdown.
- Step 1: Find a quiet room (or a bathroom—the bathroom is the introvert’s sanctuary).
- Step 2: Use visuals. Sometimes, when we go non-verbal or shut down, people think we’re being rude. We aren’t; we’re just buffering.
We actually made our Social Battery Pin Badges specifically for this time of year. Wearing a pin that says “Input Overload. Wait.” or “Social Battery Low” saves you from having to explain yourself when you physically can’t.
3. BYO-Everything (Bring Your Own…)
- BYO-Earplugs: Loop, Flare, noise-canceling headphones—whatever your weapon of choice is, keep it in your pocket. The volume of family gatherings tends to rise exponentially as the night goes on.
- BYO-Food: If you have texture sensitivities, holiday meals can be terrifying. “Mystery Casserole” is not a safe food. Bring a snack or a side dish you know you can eat. It’s not rude; it’s survival.
4. The “Irish Goodbye” is Valid
There is a lot of pressure to be the last one standing at the party. Let that go.
Set an “Exit Time” before you even arrive. Tell the host, “I can only pop in for an hour, but I can’t wait to see you!”
When that hour is up, you leave. No guilt. No over-explaining. You came, you saw, you masked, you conquered. Now go home, put on your pajamas, and stare at the wall in silence. You earned it.
Happy Holidays, friends.
May your lights be dimmable, your tags be tear-away, and your safe foods be plentiful.
Running low on energy?