Every year, as the air gets colder and the stores start playing Christmas music way too early, I’m reminded that the holidays are equal parts magic and madness. And if you work in an industry that deals with Thanksgiving week deliveries, you know exactly what I mean.
The Thanksgiving Delivery Shuffle
The week of Thanksgiving is like the Super Bowl of logistics. Customers expect fully stocked shelves, grocery stores need every product on time, and the universe seems determined to make schedules as complicated as possible. Holiday hours shift, trucks run at unusual times, and everyone is trying to adjust for a week where everything has to be squeezed into fewer working days.
It’s a puzzle every single year — one missing piece and suddenly a store is short on essentials, or a delivery gets bumped, or someone ends up working a 12-hour day to get turkeys, rolls, and pie crusts where they need to go.
But still, we make it happen. Somehow. Even if it means spending way too much time staring at a calendar and trying to convince yourself that Wednesday absolutely does not count as a full workday.
And Then There’s My Personal Calendar…
As if the professional chaos isn’t enough, the social side of the holidays kicks in around the same time. From early November through New Year’s, my weekends are essentially gone — booked solid with outings, dinners, gatherings, celebrations, traditions, and the occasional event I forgot about until my phone buzzed with a reminder.
Don’t get me wrong: I love seeing people, celebrating, and making memories. But when every single weekend is spoken for, it becomes a little harder to find those quiet pockets of time — the ones where you can breathe, reset, or just sit on the couch and do nothing without feeling guilty.
Trying to Carve Out Time for Myself
Somewhere between rearranging delivery schedules and RSVPing to yet another holiday get-together, I’ve realized how easy it is to lose track of my own needs this time of year. It’s like the season demands constant motion — and I’m just trying to keep up.
So this year, I’m making a point to intentionally block out time for myself. Even if it’s small. Even if it’s just an evening. Even if it means saying “not this time” to an event I would normally go to.
Because the holidays should be enjoyed, not just survived.
If You’re Feeling the Same Way…
You’re not alone. Everyone who works in a time-sensitive industry, or who juggles work and family and social expectations during the holidays, knows the struggle of trying to make everything fit.
Here’s to getting the deliveries done, showing up for the people we care about, and still remembering to show up for ourselves.
