How to Stop Feeling Behind
From happy healthy hustle by Dr. Christiane Schroeter
December 20, 2025 · 10 min · Season 3 · Episode 78
About this episode
In this episode, Dr. Christiane Schroeter discusses the feelings of loneliness and comparison that can arise during the holidays and offers insights on how to cultivate a sense of belonging.
Feeling behind this holiday season? You’re not imagining the heaviness. But you’re also not failing. In this solo episode of the Happy Healthy Hustle Podcast , I unpack why the holidays amplify loneliness, comparison, and the quiet belief that everyone else is somehow “ahead.” Through psychology, lived experience, and a deeply personal story from my first holiday season in the United States, this episode reframes what it really means to belong. This conversation is for anyone whose holidays look different this year. Quieter. Unplanned. Far from home. Or simply not matching the picture in their head. You’ll learn why the pressure you feel isn’t truth. It’s psychology. And how small, steady practices can help you feel grounded again, even in unfamiliar seasons In this episode, we explore: ➡️ Why the holidays intensify comparison, timelines, and the feeling of being behind ➡️ The spotlight effect and how it convinces us others are judging our lives more than they are ➡️ Why loneliness feels heavier this time of year and how to release that pressure ➡️ A personal story from my first holiday season away from Germany ➡️ How curiosity and spontaneity can create unexpected belonging ➡️…
People in this episode
Host: Dr. Christiane Schroeter
Topics covered
- holiday loneliness
- comparison
- belonging
- psychology
- personal stories
- rituals
- emotional steadiness
Keywords
- holidays
- loneliness
- comparison
- belonging
- psychology
- rituals
- emotional steadiness
- personal story
- traditions
- micro rituals
Mentioned in this episode
Places: United States, Germany
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