Get my best tips and insights on productivity, confidence, balance, and connection ... learned from 15 years of successfully working from home. Long-term WFH is a CHOICE, a lifestyle, a CULTURE. And I believe that if you're going to do something, you should do it right. But you don't have to do it alone. Activate your free subscription to The Tenacious WFH Entrepreneur newsletter so that you get your weekly dose of grit and grace to keep you going by entering your email address below.
Feeling Tired This Holiday Season? This One's for You
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The Joy That Carries You Doesn’t Come Wrapped in Ribbons and Bows Reader, if you’re feeling tired this holiday season, there’s a good chance it’s not because you didn’t do enough throughout the year behind us — it’s because you did a lot. And the things that truly carried you through this year probably aren’t sitting under the tree. They’re quieter than that. Less visible. The kind of joy that doesn’t come wrapped or announced, but shows up steadily — in small moments, steady supports, and choices that helped you keep going when things felt full or uncertain. Which is why, if this week feels softer, slower, or a little emotionally fuzzy around the edges, you’re not imagining it. For many work-from-home entrepreneurs, Christmas week isn’t about productivity or momentum — it’s about taking time to exhale. It's the pause between what’s been a full year and what’s coming next. And in that space, something important becomes easier to notice ... Not the loud wins. Not the flashy milestones. ... But the unwrapped gifts that quietly carried you through. The Gifts You Gave Yourself (Even If You Don’t Call Them That)These gifts aren’t the kind that show up on a revenue report or Instagram recap. But they made it possible to keep going. Maybe it was confidence you didn’t have last January but that you gained over the course of the year. Maybe it was clarity about what no longer fits. Perhaps it was learning you can survive uncertainty — or slow seasons — without losing yourself. Or maybe it was protecting your energy more often than you used to, even when it felt uncomfortable. These are real gifts. Foundational ones. And here’s something I want you to really hear, especially if you’re tired right now: Joy is not a luxury. It’s fuel. Why This Matters for Work-From-Home EntrepreneursWhen your business lives inside your home, your nervous system, your creativity, and your emotional energy matter just as much as your strategy. The small things that steady you — morning quiet, a dog at your feet, a playlist that shifts your mood, a client message that reminds you why — are not extras. They are your real joy-givers. It’s important to identify your joy-givers. Protect and celebrate them. They’re part of how you stay tenacious. At the same time, this holiday week we’re in often reveals what drains you, too. The traditions you secretly feel relieved to pause. The obligations that look generous on the outside but feel heavy inside. The routines you’ve outgrown but kept because “this is just how it’s done.” Noticing what drains you doesn’t make you ungrateful. It makes you honest. And honesty is how you refine what you carry forward. You don’t need a big year-end reset or a list of resolutions. You just need space to notice what nourishes you — and what doesn’t — so you can protect the former a little more intentionally. Your Action Step this WeekChoose One Unwrapped Gift to Protect Before the week ends, do this simple reflection:
No fixing. No optimizing. Just choosing. If you’d like a gentle structure to guide this reflection, I wrote more about this process — including a simple Reflect • Refine • Recharge rhythm — in this week’s blog article, The Gifts You Don’t Wrap: How to Notice, Protect, and Celebrate Your Real Sources of Joy And if you’re a Tenacious WFH Entrepreneur Insider or VIP, this month’s Mini Power Tool (the Monthly Mindset Reset Clarity Sheet – December Edition) walks you through this exact kind of reset in 5–15 minutes. It’s designed for seasons like this — thoughtful, tender, and real. You don’t need to do more this week. You’re allowed to notice what already supports you — and keep it. 🎄✨ ✨Want to go deeper? 💎 Upgrade to Insider/VIP access for instant access to the full Power Tool library.
As always, I'd love to know what you think of this week's newsletter. Post your thoughts on social and tag me (@coachmichelepeterson), or simply reply to this email! Thank you. I appreciate you! xoxo, Now for more good stuff ... NOW! For Those Who Want More ...Tenacious WFH Insiders get access to monthly Mini Power Tool downloadables like this month's Monthly Mindset Reset Clarity Sheet (December Edition), an exclusive audio version of the weekly newsletter and blog via the private podcast Insiders Only Tenacious WFH Entrepreneur Audio Experience that you can listen to on your favorite podcast platform ... and more! Get all the details here. UPGRADE TO INSIDER or VIP STATUS TODAY! Interesting Reads ...
Win WFH Tip of the WeekWFH Tip: To WIN working from home, leave space on your calendar for the important things each day. Not just at the holidays, but all through the year. Grit & Grace Affirmation of the WeekI am present. I am joyful. I love my life. Say it. Believe it. Be it. From the book Badass Affirmations by Becca Anderson I hope you enjoyed this week's newsletter. Thank you for linking arms and being part of my working from home tribe! I'll be back next week with more tips, inspiration, and other fun stuff to empower your WFH success. Until then, have a beautiful week! xoxo, P.S. It's my goal to inspire you and remind you of your greatness as we navigate WFH life together. If you loved this week's newsletter, please feel free to forward it to your friends! And just one more thing ...
December 23, 2025 | Coach Michele Peterson
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Coach Michele Peterson
Get my best tips and insights on productivity, confidence, balance, and connection ... learned from 15 years of successfully working from home. Long-term WFH is a CHOICE, a lifestyle, a CULTURE. And I believe that if you're going to do something, you should do it right. But you don't have to do it alone. Activate your free subscription to The Tenacious WFH Entrepreneur newsletter so that you get your weekly dose of grit and grace to keep you going by entering your email address below.
Why Building Rest Into Your Workday Makes You More Productive — Not Less Hey Reader, happy mid-December! You hanging in there? If you’ve ever ended a workday feeling wrung out — like you worked all day but didn’t actually feel productive — you’re not alone. This time of year especially, many work-from-home entrepreneurs try to force summer-level output from winter-level energy. Shorter days. Heavier brains. Bodies that want slower rhythms. And yet … the to-do list stays loud. Here’s the...
A gentler, doable way to feel more in control before January arrives Reader, we’ve officially entered that funny stretch of December where time feels both slow and fast … like we’re wading through molasses, but the calendar is sprinting toward the new year. And if you’re anything like me (and every Gen X woman entrepreneur I know), this is when the whispers start: “You should fix everything now.” “You need a new system.” “You’re already behind on next year.” But here’s the truth (whispered...
A Gentler, More Grounded Way to Lighten Your Workload — From the Inside Out Reader, tell me if this sounds familiar … You sit down at your desk — coffee warm, planner open, to-do list fairly reasonable — and yet you feel tired before you even start. Not physically tired. More like a quiet mental heaviness you can’t quite name. That’s emotional clutter. And this is the season it loves to pile up. Year-end brings a strange cocktail of momentum, pressure, hope, and holiday chaos. As Gen X women,...