Welcome to NO-vember: Saying No to Stress and Yes to Yourself This Holiday Season
Hello, fabulous friends over 40!
If you’re like me, as we enter the month of November, your calendar is already filling up with holiday gatherings, cookie exchanges, office parties, and family commitments.
Throw in work, holiday shopping, cleaning, and decorating the house—and there doesn’t seem to be much time left to actually enjoy the festivities, let alone set aside a few moments for yourself.
Oh wait—let’s not forget the hair, nail, and lash appointments squeezed in there, plus trying to stay on track with workouts and eat more protein. (Because muscle loss over 40 is real, ladies!)
It’s no wonder that for women over 40, the holidays can feel like one long to-do list instead of a time for joy.
Last Year’s Lesson: The Power of NO
Last year, I wrote a post about welcoming NO-vember—a reminder to say NO to things that drain your energy or steal your peace.
❌ No to overscheduling
❌ No to negative self-talk
❌ No to stressing over the perfect gifts or Pinterest-worthy decor.
Because the truth is, women over 40 already do enough. The holidays should fill your cup, not empty it.
“This year, I’m revisiting that idea with a twist. Because while it’s important to set boundaries and say no to the things that drain you, it’s equally important to say YES to the things (and people) that fill you up.”
One of my favorite holiday traditions is celebrating “Friendsgiving” with my bootcamp buddies!
🙌 My NO-vember YES List
This Year’s Twist: Saying YES to Joy
But this year, I’m starting my NO-vember with a few intentional YES’s.
✅ YES to spending time with the people who truly make me happy.
This week my friends and I celebrated our annual “Friendsgiving Dinner.” It is one of my favorite holiday traditions! We all pitch in, have dinner catered so nobody has to worry about cooking, and enjoy cocktails while talking and laughing all evening! This year, I invite you to say YES to the events that fill your cup - like my Friendsgiving dinner - and skip the ones that drain you.
✅ YES to the wine, cheese and the cookies—because balance matters more than perfection.
Last year I was focused on Weight Watcher points - and while I still am working on eating healthy and working out, this year I’m not stressing over every bite I put into my mouth over the holidays! I will focus on maintaining my healthy workout routines and drinking water and eating protein….but when the wine and cheese gets passed around, you bet I’m gonna enjoy myself this holiday season!
✅ YES to getting my nails and lashes done, simply because it makes me feel good.
I’ve had a lot of people ask me why I get lash extensions or why I unapologetically get Botox treatments. The answer is - because I want to! I do it for me - to feel confident on the inside AND the outside. So this year, I’m done explaining myself to everyone else and I’m saying YES to what makes ME feel good. I invite you to do the same!
✅ YES to holiday outfits that flatter my curves and make me feel confident (looking at you, Spanx Flare Jeans, Spanx Faux Leggings, and Spanx Ponte Flare Pants!)
If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know that I am huge fan of Spanx - not just for their awesome shapewear, but even more so for their clothing line! This holiday season I’ll be pairing my fave Spanx pants with heels and a sparkly top for an easy holiday “uniform” that will flatter all of my curves and make me feel my best!
✅ YES to red lipstick, high heels, and spontaneous nights out at a pop-up Jingle Bar.
Because this season, I’m focusing less on perfection and more on presence.
The Real Gift of Midlife: Choosing Yourself
As we enter midlife, our priorities shift. We’ve spent years giving—to our families, our careers, our communities. But saying yes to ourselves is not selfish. It’s powerful.
This NO-vember, let’s redefine what it means to give ourselves grace. Let’s skip the guilt, embrace what brings us joy, and allow ourselves to shine.
Style & Self-Care Picks for NO-vember
Here are a few of my favorite items that help me feel fabulous during the chaos of the holiday season:
💄 Beauty Boost: DRMTLGY Brightening Eye Masks — goodbye, tired puffy eyes and dark circles….hello bright eyes!
👖 Flattering Denim: Spanx Flare Jeans — not only are these jeans sleek, smoothing, and curve-hugging….but they are on sale! Pair them with heels and a blazer for a perfectly polished holiday look!
🕯️ Calming Vibes: Nest New York Holiday Scented Candle — because scent = instant stress relief.
🍷 Relax & Unwind: Corkcicle Airwine Bottle Chiller— a perfect hostess gift to cork and chill those holiday whites or just for those “Wine About It Wednesday” moments.
💪 Health Reset: Vital Proteins Collagen Peptide Powder — mix it in your coffee or morning protein shake - because we deserve to feel strong and sexy.
(All affiliate links help support this blog—thank you for being part of this amazing community!)
Let’s Chat
How are you embracing NO-vember this year?
What are you saying no to—and what are you joyfully saying yes to instead?
Drop a comment below or tag me on social @staceycreely with your own NO-vember moments.
