Welcome to The Joyful Rebellion!

Because setting boundaries, resting well, and building healthier systems is radical.

🧪What's New In the Lab

Several years ago, I got in the habit of taking off the two weeks surrounding Christmas and New Year's. It was a slower time in my field, and working added unnecessarily to the chaos of shopping, cooking, socializing, and everything the holiday brings. Today, I still choose to give myself the gift of rest and peace, slowing the pace even just a bit to make this time of year feel more enjoyable and less stressful. So for the next two weeks, the Lab is on hiatus. I hope you can also find a way to take a break - 5 minutes, a day, a week - before we head into 2026.

Enjoy today's photo: I enjoyed camping at Silver Springs, FL for the first time and look forward to more camping in 2026!

From a camping trip at Silver Springs, FL, December 2025

✍🏽 The Better Boundaries Brief

As 2025 comes to a close, this year-end edition of the Better Boundaries Brief reflects on the themes that resonated most: time as a boundary, caregiving and grief at work, leadership gaps, and the systems that shape collective wellbeing. Featuring top posts, reader reflections, and favorite resources, this wrap-up invites a pause to reflect and ground before taking a look ahead.

Work, Care, and Wellbeing in 2025: A Better Boundaries Brief Year-End Reflection

Read Now

🎧 Work Is Third: Podcast Spotlight

New episodes will resume January 12th. Got any ideas for the show? Share them: dawn@workisthird.com.

And as a reminder, here are some additional ways you can engage with the Work is Third movement:

Bookshop.org: The Joyful Rebellion Reading List, featuring books mentioned on the show
The Joyful Rebellion Spotify Playlist, featuring selections from Work is Third guests...and a few of my own favorites
Share a voice note with a story of your own, an episode reflection, or ideas for future episodes.

Listen Now

📊Data That Matters

According to Modern Health, among U.S. employees surveyed:

57% feel obligated to check email while on holiday
51% work through the season to avoid additional personal stress
57% struggle to re-engage afterward
40% have considered quitting because of holiday burnout or returning-to-work dread

Why this matters

Time off should be restorative, not draining. If you find yourself struggling to disconnect, create small breaks for yourself: put your phone on Do Not Disturb for set times or use a timer to limit your use; share your goals with an accountability buddy and check-in with each other; schedule time for yourself over the next two weeks.

Link: 57% of Employees Say the Holidays Are the Most Draining Time of Year

💬Quote of the Week

📓 Journal Prompt

What gift can I offer myself this holiday season? Is it rest, permission, honesty, play, distance, connection, or simply doing less?

🌞 Affirmation of the Week

I honor my limits, especially at the end of a long year.

💫 Closing Reflection

As this year comes to a close, I hope you find moments, whether small or spacious, to slow down and breathe. You don’t need to resolve anything, fix anything, or become anything new right now. Rest is not a reward. Rest is a condition for being human. I’ll see you in 2026, steadier, softer, and ready for whatever comes next.

👉 Reach out to explore how we can collaborate to support your teams in the new year.

🎶 The Rebellion Has a Soundtrack

Don’t forget—The Joyful Rebellion has a Spotify playlist! It’s a genre-defying soundtrack for rebels, rest-seekers, and boundary-builders featuring selections from Work is Third guests.

The Joyful Rebellion • Dawn...

Rebel Girl • Bikini Kill

PREVIEW

🤝🏽Let’s Work Together

Ready to bring more clarity, courage, and care into your workplace?
I help organizations build ethical, human-centered cultures through leadership retreats, change-management workshops, and values-aligned strategy sessions.
👉 Book a call and let’s build something better together.

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