Why Thanksgiving Feels So Draining (and how to fix it)

Thanksgiving week often asks women for too much.

For many women, Thanksgiving isn’t a holiday. 

It’s an unpaid job.

You plan the menu, shop for groceries, prep the house, and coordinate schedules.

You manage the drama between relatives who still can’t get along.

And you entertain that relative that always has something smart to say.

Ever wonder why Thanksgiving feels more like a performance than a break?

Someone notices your forced smile and asks, “Are you okay?”

You say, “I’m fine.”
But you’re not.

You want to sit and laugh with your family.
You want to feel present, happy, grateful.

But all you feel is exhausted.

Gratitude?
How can you feel thankful when there’s nothing left in the tank?

And then, Friday morning hits.

You “hop on for just a second” to check your email.
That second turns into hours, and suddenly, your long weekend is gone.

You tell yourself next year will be different.
But deep down, you know—if you don’t change something, it won’t be.

And you’ll be even more burnt out.

Society tells us Thanksgiving is about gratitude.

And it is.

But for women, it’s about giving everything—your time, your energy, your sanity.

• You’re last to eat because you’re too busy serving.
• You’ve barely slept because you stayed up prepping.
• You didn’t even taste the pie you baked because you were wiping up spills

This year, try something different:

Start with radical honesty.
Tell your family the truth: you can’t (and won’t) do it all.
If you don’t have the conversation, they’ll assume you’ve got it covered—again.

Delegate with purpose.
Assign specific roles to everyone. Not vague “help” but actionable tasks:

• “You’re on drinks.”
• “You’re setting the table.”
• “You’re carving the turkey”

Release perfection.
The table doesn’t need to look like Pinterest. The food doesn’t need to be Martha Stewart-level.
What matters is that you’re present—not perfect.

Make room for your joy.
Block out time for yourself before the day starts. 

A run, a podcast, a nap—whatever feels good.
Reclaim your energy before you give it away.

Thanksgiving is meant to be about gratitude.
It’s okay to show gratitude to yourself first.’

Imagine a Thanksgiving where you’re not exhausted.
Where you’re not managing every detail.
Where you can actually sit, laugh, and feel grateful without the burnout.

If you’re a high-achieving woman ready to break free from the drama and the endless to-do list, send me a message.

Let’s talk about how we can restore your joy in 2025.

You deserve that.

This year, let Thanksgiving be what it was meant to be:
A celebration of abundance, not a depletion of your reserves.

Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate.

With Love,

Dr. Beckford

Your Burnout Prevention Coach

P.S. Transformation happens when you take action. Let’s make sure you’re walking into 2025 without the same burnout and drama.