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You’re not alone. We, too, emerge from the holiday gauntlet feeling like we need a mental hose-down and a three-day nap. Honestly, some of us are already feeling it.

I always kick off the season with good intentions: homemade gingerbread, handmade invitations, gallons of hot cocoa (read: mulled wine). But before I know it, gift planning, hosting and attending parties, traveling (oh, the traveling), and more seem to pile up. Somewhere in the shuffle, I forget to give myself some grace and space, leading to burnout by January.

First off, holiday burnout is real. 

Researchers link the spike in year-end obligations (plus travel, social expectations, less rest, etc.) to increased stress, less detachment from work, and emotional exhaustion. Equally, the holiday season itself ramps up demands on attention, memory, and planning, meaning your brain’s already taxed long before you even greet Aunt Marge.

When burnout hits, the goal shouldn’t be to suddenly overhaul our lives, but instead to build small, consistent rituals that actually help us recover (slow and steady wins, after all). For me, this has meant finding something that can meet me where I am: overstimulated, overtired, and desperate for balance.

Pulling back with these three shifts is a smart first place to start:

I’m so glad you asked.

This is a brand that crafts everything from seltzers to gummies from hemp that’s home-grown in Kentucky. They use only the hemp flower (no stalks or seeds, which is pretty unique in the industry), and back every batch with third-party lab results, so you know exactly what you’re getting. No kidding, you can literally search the batch number on your specific Cornbread Hemp product and experience some of the best brand transparency I’ve personally encountered.

If you’ve never used CBD or hemp-derived products, think of it less like a quick fix and more like a tender caress of your nervous system. Research suggests that CBD may help ease stress and support better sleep by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which is the part responsible for regulating mood, rest, and inflammation.

For me, a single CBD gummy (even just the 25 milligram dose) ushers me out of my wired-but-tired holiday mode within 45 minutes. The brand’s sleep gummies are non-habit-forming and my go-to for nights I can’t quite shut off. The effects of all their hemp gummies are subtle, though — you don’t feel them kick in, but you may notice that your mind suddenly isn’t racing quite as much, or that you finally slept through the night.

And because not everyone’s burnout looks the same, Cornbread’s range makes it easy to tailor the fix:

Their gummies are full-spectrum, meaning you get the complete range of cannabinoids and terpenes that naturally occur in the hemp plant, which researchers suggest may work better together than isolates alone.

Their Seltzers are all-natural, low-calorie, and low-sugar, and contain six ingredients you can actually pronounce. 

I’m not interested in performance hacks, but genuine recovery, gentle neural reset, and clearer headspace, especially during the holidays. So, for me, Cornbread Hemp is the fit. How, you might ask? Well, here’s a breakdown of the exact times I’ve utilized Cornbread Hemp during the holidays:

Cornbread Hemp’s sparkling seltzers are low-dose, fruit-forward drinks with crisp, refreshing flavor profiles that taste closer to craft mocktails than functional beverages. Each can contains 5 milligrams of their signature full-spectrum extract for a light, happy, calm that’s social, subtle, and consistent. For users who want more of a boost, they now have 10 milligram variants in Raspberry Limeade and Blueberry Breeze.

These seltzers are my version of a perfect ritual — the thing I reach for instead of wine. The Salted Watermelon is my favorite: it’s bright, mineral, and oddly nostalgic, like summer in a glass. The others are equally clean and crisp, making them perfect for winding down, replacing cocktails, or simply cutting through Texas heat. The experience is more mood-brightening than sedative — the perfect sweet spot.

Flavors: Raspberry Limeade, Salted Watermelon (my favorite), Peach Iced Tea, Blueberry Breeze

Strengths: 5 milligrams; 10 milligrams (not tested)

Cornbread Hemp’s signature CBD gummies are soft, fruit-flavored bites designed for daily calm, focus, and relaxation. They’re made with organic full-spectrum hemp and contain no artificial colors or gelatin, offering a cleaner and tastier alternative to most gummies on the market.

These are the ones that made me a believer. They melt tension without melting motivation and are my ideal daily dose for focus and composure. The Watermelon is bright and juicy, the Peach is soft and mellow, and the Berry tastes like a grown-up fruit snack. I take one in the morning when I know I’ll be glued to my screen or before a flight when my nervous system wants to riot.

Flavors: Watermelon, Berry, Peach

Strengths: 750 milligrams (total in jar), 1500 milligrams (3000 milligrams is new and I haven’t tested it yet)

Cornbread Hemp’s gummies deliver a smooth, uplifting calm wrapped in a subtly sweet blueberry, bright blood orange, or tangy cherry lime flavor that tastes like real fruit, not candy. Each gummy contains 10 milligrams of full-spectrum extract, designed to melt away tension while keeping you functional and focused. They’re soft, naturally flavored, and made with organic ingredients.

These are my go-tos when I want to ease into a lighter, more peaceful mood — the kind that makes even errands feel tranquil. The onset is smooth, the vibe steady, and the flavor almost dangerously good. I like them before dinner, on long writing days, or when I need to transition from “work” Kendall to “evening” Kendall without feeling sluggish.

Flavors: Cherry Lime Chill, Blood Orange Bliss, and Blueberry Breeze

Strengths: 200 milligrams (total in jar)

These gummies combine full-spectrum hemp with organic sleep-supporting botanicals for a deeper, more restorative rest. They taste like dark berries and work gradually, helping you fall asleep and stay asleep without morning grogginess.

These are the only sleep gummies I trust enough to actually pack when I travel. One before bed, and I’m out — not in an Ambien way, but in a natural, body-level exhale kind of way. I wake up refreshed, not drugged, and I genuinely notice the difference when I forget them. They’re consistent, reliable, and the rare sleep aid that doesn’t feel like a gamble.

Flavors: Unflavored (mildly sweet and floral from the natural ingredients)

Strengths: 750 milligrams (total in jar), 1500 milligrams (3000 milligrams is new and untested)

Stop telling yourself the hangover of the holiday hustle is inevitable. The low-grade anxiety, the fatigue, the relentlessness of “just one more thing” — it’s all avoidable. You deserve to unwind that high-expectation playlist and let the chips of the holiday season fall where they may. All you need are a few smart tools, some kindness to yourself, and a brand you trust. I’m lucky to have found mine, and it could end up being yours, too.

This article was written by Kendall Cornish, New York Post Commerce Editor & Reporter. Kendall, who moonlights as a private chef in the Hamptons for New York elites, lends her expertise to testing and recommending cooking products – for beginners and aspiring sous chefs alike. Simmering and seasoning her way through both jobs, Kendall dishes on everything from the best cookware for your kitchen to chef-approved gourmet meal kits to the full suite of Ninja appliances. Prior to joining the Post’s shopping team in 2023, Kendall previously held positions at Apartment Therapy and at Dotdash Meredith’s Travel + Leisure and Departures magazines.