Permission to Pause: Escaping the Holiday Hustle Trap

Ep. 127 If the holiday grind has you feeling like you’re obligation away from completely spiraling… pause. This episode is the exhale your nervous system has been begging for. In this grounding episode of High Vibe Table Talks, host Merchon Hargrave hands you the permission slip you've been waiting for: you don’t have to wrap up the year in hustle, pressure, or girl-boss burnout energy. You get to finish the year in alignment, not survival mode. Merchon breaks down why “finishing strong” has become a trap for women, especially during the holidays — and how to reclaim your pace, your rhythm, and your peace. Instead of pushing harder, she walks you through how to set up long-term supports, choose sustainable expectations, and protect your mental bandwidth in a season that demands so much of you. ✨ THE 3 STEPS TO AVOID SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL 1. Stop, Breathe, Step Inward Take a deep breath, listen to what your body is saying, name your emotions, and reconnect with what you truly need. 2. Conduct an Energy Check Look at everything you’re saying “yes” to. Which things feel heavy and draining? Which ones feel light and aligned? Adjust accordingly. 3. Remember You Are Enough Affirm it before you need it: You are enough. You’re doing enough. Your being is enough. Validate yourself first. 💬 Join the Conversation on Threads @‌HighVibeCowork 💻 Virtual Co-Working for Creators – SPS High Vibe Cowork 📈 Sales Prospecting Simplified: The Course – Register Now ✨ KEY TAKEAWAYS “Finishing strong” should support your rest — not destroy it. Honor your natural rhythms instead of forcing productivity. Sustainability > perfection, especially during the holidays. Your “yes” always costs you something — choose wisely. Self-validation is more powerful than external approval. You can build a business that makes space for your life, not the other way around. Chapters: 0:00 – Why This Season Feels So Heavy 1:36 – Building a Business That Supports Your Life 2:38 – The Permission to Slow Down 3:16 – What Girl-Boss Energy Really Costs Us 4:23 – The Holiday Mental Load No One Talks About 5:09 – “Finish Strong” the Right Way 6:40 – Honoring Your Natural Seasonal Rhythm 7:51 – Sustainability Over Perfection 8:21 – Asking for Help + Protecting Your Bandwidth 8:59 – Letting Go of the Balance Myth 10:16 – Micro-Action #1: Stop, Breathe, Step Inward 11:51 – Micro-Action #2: Energy Checking Your Yes’s 12:58 – Understanding Light vs Heavy Opportunities 13:44 – Micro-Action #3: Remembering You Are Enough 14:58 – Why Self-Validation Matters Most 15:46 – Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices