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Follow The Sun Psychology, 187 James Street, New Farm (2026)

24/12/2025

🎄🧝‍♀️ Day 1 — Stocking Mode Activated
Day 1 finds Atsie the Elf tucked up in her Christmas stocking…aka the eye of the Christmas storm.
She’s wrapped the pressies, counted her blessings, and is ready for an evening of carols by candlelight, kids on their best behaviour (…for now), and that final magical exhale before Santa descends.
And to you, dear co-adventurer, thank you warmly for riding shotgun in this Advent saga. May your Chrissy be overflowing with joy, peace, and minimal emergency emotional plumbing. Wishing much psychological and physical wellbeing for you and your loved ones this festive season.
Now for your Christmas operating system options:
🧌🔥 Goblin Energy
Goblin Christmas starts with “We’re keeping it chill this year,” which in family code means: brace for impact.
Within 60 minutes the goblin will:
• ask a question that sounds like a compliment but lands like a subpoena
• say “I’m fine” in a tone that could strip paint
• offer parenting advice last updated during dial-up internet
• bring a vibe so chaotic it qualifies as weather
And this is the true Christmas sabotage:
You accidentally feed the goblin after midnight (emotionally or literally).
Suddenly the goblin energy erupts like:
backyard cricket but everyone’s the ball and nobody’s padded up.
It ruins Christmas by:
• reviving a 12-year-old argument like it’s been cryogenically preserved
• turning table conversation into a competitive sport
• weaponising nostalgia
• and converting peace into an extreme team-building exercise nobody consented to
By dessert:
Someone’s staged a walkout, one sibling’s rage-stacking the dishwasher, and a child has defected to the dog because the dog is the only regulated adult in the home.
🧝‍♀️✨ Functional Elf Energy (Calm Firmware Update)
Stop. Breathe. Feet on the floor. Soul back in body.
Install circuit breakers. Pressure valves. Micro-escapes.
Choose kindness without choosing the courtroom drama.
Christmas success is:
Everyone fed, mostly regulated, nobody needing mediation before pudding.
Wishing you a merry one…imperfect, human, survivable.
Love,
Atsie (still inside a sock)

23/12/2025

🎄🏏 Two Sleeps to Go: Atsie vs Backyard Cricket & Family Systems 🧝‍♀️
Two days to Christmas and Atsie the Elf is trying to protect her vital organs, fielding at Silly Mid On while narrowly avoiding one of her brother-in-law’s “medium pacers”…which, mysteriously, have a lot more zip this year.
Atsie did briefly receive a premonition that this game could descend into anarchy, particularly given last Christmas’ incident involving her B.I.L, the back door, and the “Door Kick“ TikTok challenge (see Day 7).
In two days’ time, families across the world will gather for Christmas. Some may already be recovering from early catch-ups like Atsie. Family Christmas usually begins with the best intentions. One minute everyone’s politely sipping a drink.
The next, a long-buried family dynamic erupts out of the ground with force, toxic sludge everywhere, no one equipped to clean it up, and at least one person staring into their plate wondering how we got here before dessert.
It usually starts innocently:
“So… are you still doing it that way?”
About the ham. The kids. Your life choices.
And suddenly…boom 🧨. Same cast. Same script. New year’s production.
So… choose your adventure 👀👇
😈👹Goblin Option: Arrive determined to “just keep the peace.”
Smile through clenched teeth.
Say nothing until you say everything.
Mix alcohol with emotional repression.
Attempt honesty over roast potatoes.
By dessert: someone’s crying in the laundry, someone’s rage-washing dishes, someone’s Googling flights home.
Goblin logic: Christmas will heal us.
✨🧝‍♀️ Functional Elf Energy
Adjust expectations: this context activates old roles. It’s not personal failure.
Notice your role (peacekeeper, scapegoat, responsible one) without fully stepping into it.
Decide in advance what you won’t engage with.
Regulate first, respond second.
Contain rather than fix! Christmas is not therapy.
Accept that some people won’t change (and you can still heal).
Use strategic distance, not dramatic exits.
Debrief with safe people. Plan recovery.
Functional Elf mantra: “I can stay kind without staying engaged.”
If family dynamics bubble up, it’s not because you’ve failed! It’s because Christmas can press ALL the buttons!

22/12/2025

✈️🎄 Day 3: Passports Found. Patience? We’ll See. 🧝‍♀️
Day 3 finds Atsie the Elf riding a brief but euphoric high after locating all family passports and confirming, praise be, they’re still valid!
And just like that, the festive travel reality sets in. This year involves planes, family, in-laws, shared bathrooms, disrupted routines and the annual Christmas tradition of putting tired nervous systems in very close proximity.
Atsie is feeling it all:
Excitement ✨ + dread 😬
Gratitude + irritation
Adventure + “why did we schedule this in December?”
Because travelling at Christmas, whether interstate or overseas, is not just a trip. It’s a logistical and emotional obstacle course.
Cramped spaces.
Shorter fuses.
Jet lag or road fatigue.
Kids off routine.
Parents off regulation.
Being in someone else’s space while trying to parent and be polite and not lose your mind.
So… choose your own adventure 👀👇
😈👹 Goblin Option
Expecting it to feel like a relaxing holiday.
Overpacking the itinerary to justify the effort and expense.
Trying to perform Christmas magic, perfect parenting and agreeable in-law energy simultaneously.
Taking public meltdowns personally.
Interpreting irritation as personal failure.
Goblin logic: If I were coping better, this wouldn’t feel so hard.
✨🧝‍♀️ Functional Elf Energy
Calling it what it is: high load, low margin for error.
Redefining success: fed, mostly safe, some moments of connection.
Lowering expectations before they lower you.
Packing familiarity (snacks, comfort items, routines) over perfection.
Expecting emotional spillover: yours and theirs.
Aligning with your partner and backing each other publicly.
Using micro-escapes: walks, early nights, “quick errands” that are actually sanity breaks.
Functional Elf wisdom: Regulation beats itinerary every time.
Kids won’t remember the delays, the wrong restaurant or the awkward family moments.
They remember being soothed, feeling safe, and knowing their parents had each other’s backs ❤️
If Christmas travel feels hard, it’s not because you’re ungrateful.
It’s because you’re navigating crowds, expectations, fatigue and relationships all at once…in peak season.
Buckle up Atsie! Deep breaths! 🧘

22/12/2025

🎄🤹‍♀️ Day 4: Atsie, the Dropped Balls & the Swiss Cloister Fantasy 🏔️
Day 4 of Atsie’s Advent Calendar finds Atsie the Elf pinned under all the balls she’s been juggling this year, especially as a busy working parent.
Raising little elves is the most rewarding job on earth… and also bloody hard. And every now and then, even the most capable elf drops a ball (or six) and briefly fantasises about a cloistered life in Switzerland where the hills are alive with the sound of music and no one needs lunchboxes.
Okay Atsie. Come back to reality, girl.
Because this time of year? It doesn’t create burnout…it reveals it.
The mental load. The emotional labour. School admin. Transport. Paid work. Household management. Extended family. And usually… your own needs sitting quietly on the floor, waiting their turn.
So… choose your own adventure 👀👇
😈👹 Goblin Energy
Trying to do everything perfectly.
Chasing an Instagram-worthy Christmas.
Carrying an invisible to-do list that never ends.
Absorbing everyone’s feelings.
Saying yes when you mean no.
Running on fumes, numbing with wine, snacks or scrolling.
Judging yourself for feeling flat, irritable or resentful.
Goblin logic: If I just try harder, I’ll cope better.
✨🧝‍♀️ Functional Elf Energy
Naming what this actually is: cumulative load + high expectations + no recovery.
Lowering the bar to good enough.
Shifting from “making magic” to maintaining regulation.
Deciding which balls must stay in the air…and which can drop.
Letting others feel disappointed without fixing it.
Using micro-regulation instead of unrealistic self-care.
Setting kind, early boundaries.
Remembering kids don’t need perfection! They need presence.
Functional Elf wisdom: You’re not failing. You’re tired.
If Christmas feels hard this year, it doesn’t mean you’re ungrateful or doing it wrong.
It means you’ve been carrying a lot… for a long time… often without enough support.
Tonight’s gentle check-in:
“What’s one thing I can do today to make this day easier! Not better, just easier?”
That counts. And so do you. 🎄✨

20/12/2025

🎄🦌 Day 5: Reindeer Regret, Heatwave Realities & Festive Fit Checks ☀️
Day 5 sees Atsie the Elf doing a Christmas Week wardrobe audit. Her fun reindeer costume is currently hitched somewhere around her waist as she reflects on last year’s bold (questionable) choice: a head-to-toe reindeer suit at the office Christmas party… in 30-plus degrees with stifling humidity.
Yes, she got maximum laughs.
Less fun was her boss repeatedly materialising with ice cubes, a worried expression, and a strong sense of duty of care to cool Atsie’s core temperature back to something more elf-like and less goblin in Satan’s lair.
This year? Growth. Possibly.
Still festive… but more functional.
Santa-on-a-surfboard boardies? 🎅🏄
Short-sleeved Secret Santa tee?
Do Santa hats come with a broad brim?🤔
Balancing fun and functional — did ‘No Bad Parts‘ cover that, or is that in Chapter 12 she skipped? (Might need to revisit that elf-help book.)
Choose your adventure 👇

😈👹 The Goblin Option
Ignoring the Australian summer entirely.
Heavy, synthetic costumes trapping heat.
No hat. No sunscreen. No water.
Overheating, heat stress, dizziness, headaches, dehydration and peak irritability.
Sunburn as a festive souvenir.
Goblin logic: Suffer for the bit.

✨🧝‍♀️ Functional Elf Energy
Dressing for the climate and the vibe.
Light, loose, breathable fabrics (cotton, linen, bamboo).
Light colours. Sensible footwear.
Hats, sunnies and SPF 30+ on repeat.
Sipping water all day (balancing booze and caffeine).
Seeking shade or air-con, especially between 11–4.
Functional Elf wisdom: You can be festive without becoming a heat-related medical presentation.

Christmas in Australia is summer.
Fun doesn’t have to mean fainting.
Dress smart. Hydrate generously.
Festive, functional, still fabulous. 🎅☀️

19/12/2025

📚🧝‍♀️ Day 6: Atsie, the Half-Read S(elf)-Help Stack & the Spirit of “Good Enough” ✨
Day 6 finds Atsie the Elf head-in-hand with her lightly read self-help collection: ‘Atomic Habits’, ‘Follow Your Breath’ and ‘No Bad Parts‘. She’s frantically hoping that the pages she skimmed back in April will somehow carry her through Christmas with the Elven rellos.
She’s mildly annoyed that the chapter on ladder breathing would’ve been extremely helpful yesterday when she was… stuck on a door frame wishing for an actual ladder (pretty sure, though, that’s not what the author meant).
And Atomic Habits? Still unclear why it didn’t magically help her develop the habit of finishing Atomic Habits.
As for No Bad Parts…apparently the margarita-loving, cheeky (occasionally salty) part of Atsie is allowed at the Christmas table this year… even if it strongly resists her mother-in-law’s attempts to “helpfully” shape her behaviour and point of view.
Like most elves (and humans), Atsie will carry a few unfulfilled wishes this Christmas. Some big, some quiet. And yes, she might judge herself for not doing enough, being better, or living up to her own very high internal standards.
So… choose your adventure 👇

😈👹 The Goblin Option
Obsessing over what didn’t happen.
Comparing your Christmas or year to everyone else’s highlight reel.
“Should” thoughts on loop.
Guilt about food, money, boundaries, energy.
Judging yourself for unfinished goals, unmet wishes, or being a little less zen than planned.
Goblin logic: If I tried harder, I’d be better by now.

✨🧝‍♀️ Functional Elf Energy
Acknowledging that unfulfilled wishes are part of being human.
Noticing that many Christmas longings are about health, peace, time, and connection, i.e., not just stuff.
Lowering the bar to good enough.
Setting boundaries without apology.
Choosing presence over perfection.
Practising self-compassion when plans wobble.
Forgiving quickly. Resting. Trying again tomorrow.
Functional Elf wisdom: Striving and kindness can coexist.

Some days we follow through. Some days we don’t.
Both are allowed.
Tomorrow is always another chance to rest… and try again. 🎄✨

19/12/2025

🎄🧝‍♀️ Day 7: Atsie vs The Squeaky Door (A Festive DIY Cautionary Tale) 🪜🔧
Day 7 of Atsie’s Advent Calendar finds our usually sensible elf dangling heroically from a door frame, determined to finally silence that squeaky hinge. You know the one. The hinge that’s been haunting her since last Christmas, when her brother-in-law (four Moscow Mules deep) decided Christmas night was the perfect time to attempt the TikTok “Door Kick Challenge.”
Yes, it’s true: Christmas comes with an enhanced risk of injury. Emergency departments reliably see a festive spike in preventable accidents; thanks to rushed DIY, decorating chaos, fatigue, alcohol, clutter, dodgy electrics and “she’ll be right” ladders.
Whilst Atsie was racing to finish the final touches before hosting the extended elven rellos, she grabbed the tall ladder, skipped calling in a spotter, over-reached… and whoosh. Ladder gone. Only her super-sticky Velcro hands saved her. Sadly, humans do not come with factory-installed Velcro palms.
So… choose your own adventure 👀👇

🟣👹 The Goblin Option
Electrical chaos, ladder nonsense and festive fire risks reign supreme.
Think: frayed fairy lights, overloaded power boards, indoor lights used outdoors, cords nailed in place, lights left on overnight.
Add ladders on uneven ground, over-reaching, standing on chairs, no spotter, alcohol + tools, rushing, flammable décor near heat, dry real trees, burning wrapping paper, and DIY jobs that really needed a licensed professional.
Goblin energy = “It’ll be fine” (Narrator: it was not fine).

✨🧝‍♀️ Functional Elf Energy
Plan first. Slow down. Use the right tools and PPE.
Inspect lights and cords, don’t overload outlets, turn everything off at night, choose fire-safe decorations, and keep heat sources well away.
Use proper ladders on stable ground, maintain three points of contact, don’t over-reach, and always have a spotter.
Tidy as you go, stay hydrated (hello Australian summer), rest when tired, avoid distractions, and keep alcohol well awayfrom DIY.
Know your limits …and call the professionals when needed.

Atsie survived. Barely.
Your turn: Goblin Energy or Functional Elf Energy? 🎄🪜

17/12/2025

🎄🚗 Day 8: Atsie Hits the Road 🚗🎄
Day 8 finds Atsie rolling out in her trusty Love Bug, waving politely to her neighbours and silently praying for a peaceful day. She’s heading out into the world today with a clear intention: tolerance, patience, empathy and curiosity. Plus a mental note to breathe deeply at intersections.
Atsie is a pretty chilled elf by nature. But like any normal elf in December, she has pressure points. Things that could test her festive regulation today include: people who believe using a car indicator is optional (do they think Rudolph is guiding everyone’s vehicles?); unkind humans moving through the world with peak entitlement and zero awareness of others; family members who unload emotional baggage onto a passing, unsuspecting elf without checking consent; and dog owners who leave that behind. You know the one.
When Atsie is exhausted or overstimulated, she knows she’s more likely to honk too quickly, judge too harshly, jump to conclusions, mind-read wildly, or utter words she wouldn’t want stitched on a festive tea towel. But she’s a self-reflective little elf. When she slips, she tries to course correct quickly, take accountability, learn with grace, and aim to do a little better the next day.
Choose your own adventure…
👾 Goblin Energy 👾
This is where Christmas stress spills into sharp tongues, boundary stomping, overindulgence, family blow-ups, emotional dumping, and “WHY is everyone like this?” energy. Expectations soar, patience collapses, routines unravel, and suddenly the season of goodwill is replaced with conflict, resentment, overstimulation and regret.
🧝‍♀️ Functional Elf Energy 🧝‍♀️
This is where we practise being regulated, respectful humans in crowded, chaotic conditions. We mind boundaries, ease up on judgment, manage our own emotions, drink (or don’t) with intention, and resist lighting matches near sensitive topics. We remember that not everyone is having a magical December and choose curiosity over conclusions, kindness over correctness, and self-control over public meltdowns. Atsie knows we’ll all wobble. But a little patience, a little empathy, and a softer grip on our own expectations can go a long way. 🎄✨

17/12/2025

🎄✨ Day 9: Atsie vs the Time–Space Continuum ✨🎄
As we tumble into the single digit countdown to Christmas, Atsie the Elf would like it formally noted that time is no longer linear. One minute it’s early December, the next she’s strapped to a Christmas star at the top of the tree, hurtling toward Christmas like a festive meteor. She’s only just managed to unstick herself long enough to write this post… the double-edged sword of having Velcro for hands. So handy. So sticky. She’ll be back up there shortly, spreading mindfulness merriment at unsafe speeds.
Today’s gentle nudge is a self check-in. A quick glance at the internal barometers …any signs of overheating? Atsie’s not going to lie! She’s got a big week coming and she’s feeling the pressure. But she’s an adaptable little elf, and yesterday she checked in and picked off a few low-hanging baubles.
She felt exhausted and deeply unenthused about her PT session… but she went. She felt like a fish-bowl sized glass of wine on a Tuesday… but she chose water. She could’ve put off booking that pesky health check until “next year”… but she booked it anyway. Was it a perfect day? Absolutely not. But three small decisions kept her from being sucked into the black holes of Christmas mania.
So, choose your own adventure…
👾 Goblin Energy 👾
This is where we ignore self-care, fly too close to the neon Christmas star in the neighbour’s front yard, and burn ourselves to a festive crisp. The result? Burnout, crankiness, anxiety, poor sleep, more wine than water, and that flat “I waited all year for this?” feeling. The season meant for joy quietly turns into exhaustion and regret.
🧝‍♀️ Functional Elf Energy 🧝‍♀️
This is where we prioritise health and wellbeing so we can actually enjoy Christmas. We rest when we can, move a little, hydrate, say “no” when needed, and let go of perfection. Not because we’re boring elves, but because being grounded, nourished and emotionally regulated lets us show up present, connected and genuinely festive.
Tiny check-ins matter. Tiny choices count. Atsie’s back on the star now, Velcro hands at the ready. But she hopes that you pause for a moment to check in. Burnout is not a XMAS tradition 🎄

15/12/2025

✨ DAY 10 — HOLDING LIGHT FOR THE EMPTY CHAIRS 🕯️🎄
Today’s photo shows Atsie the Elf pausing with a candle, making space for the people (and paws) who won’t be sitting at our Christmas tables this year.
An older brother gone a decade. A mum who said her heavenly goodbyes far too recently. A cheeky pooch who still feels like family. Or someone lost suddenly, tragically, and way before their time.
For some, the grief is loud. For others, it’s quiet and carried privately. And for many, it’s a living grief. Loving someone from afar, supporting someone through chronic illness, or navigating a season that looks nothing like it used to. There is no universal grief response. And there is no right way to do Christmas when your heart is hurting.
Instead of joy, people may feel flat, nostalgic, irritable, lonely or overwhelmed. If that’s you, you’re not broken. You’re human.
This is a season to soften our expectations of ourselves and each other. To resist judging how grief looks on someone else. To remember that checking in, listening, offering a meal, a walk, or quiet company can matter more than any perfectly wrapped gift. Sometimes the bravest thing is simply saying, “This is hard.”
🎭 Choose Your Own Advent Adventure:
👺 Goblin Energy
Avoiding the pain at all costs. Staying constantly busy. Numbing out. Over-functioning. Snapping at loved ones. Pretending you’re “fine” when you’re not. (Btw no shame; this is a common nervous system survival response.)
🧝‍♀️ Functional Elf Energy
Letting feelings come in waves. Talking about the person you’ve lost. Crying, laughing, remembering. Asking for support. Creating new traditions or gently honouring old ones. Leaning in, even in tiny doses.
Most of us bounce between both. That’s normal. Be gentle with yourself. And if you notice someone struggling, lean in if it feels right. If you’re the one grieving, staying connected to people, rituals, or professional support can help carry the load.
Today, Atsie lights a candle. Not to erase the darkness, but to remind us that love doesn’t disappear. It changes shape. 🕯️✨🦋

15/12/2025

✨ DAY 11 — LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS 🕯️💙
Today’s post feels heavier than most.
On Sunday afternoon in Bondi, as members of the Jewish community gathered peacefully to celebrate Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, horrific and heartbreaking events unfolded. My heart is with the Jewish community in Australia, and especially in Sydney. You deserve safety, dignity, and belonging. Not just in words, but in action.
I spent time living in North Bondi in my early 20s, and what always struck me was how much it represented a shared space: people of different cultures, beliefs, ages and backgrounds coming together to swim, eat, talk, celebrate, and simply be. For many, it felt like a home away from home. That sense of community is something worth protecting.
Acts of hate are designed to fracture trust, to make people feel unsafe in places that once felt familiar, and to convince us that fear should guide how we live. But the actions of a few do not define who we are…or who we choose to be.
Most Australians are deeply disturbed by what occurred. We will continue to gather. We will continue to live our lives. And we can choose to stand alongside our Jewish neighbours, and anyone who wishes to live peacefully, with care, courage, and humanity.
There is no Choose Your Own Adventure today.
Just acknowledgment.
Just solidarity.
Just light.
Today’s photo is of Hanukkah candles beside Atsie’s The Elf’s Day 11 bauble. A small gesture to honour those affected, and a reminder that light matters most when darkness tries to take up space.
If you’re reading this, consider lighting a candle today; not to fix what cannot be undone, but to quietly affirm that compassion, connection, and community still exist. 🕯️💙
We stand with the Bondi Jewish community and offer heartfelt condolences to those who have lost loved ones. We offer our prayers to those who continue to cling to life, and also for our country that we can do, and be, better for all that choose to make their home here. 📷wrj.org

15/12/2025

🎄✨ Atsie’s Advent Calendar – Belated Day 12: Home Is Who You Choose ✨🎄
Today Atsie the Elf found herself nestled in a Christmas tree beside a tiny festive house bauble. A reminder that home isn’t always bricks and mortar. Sometimes it’s chosen people, shared history, inside jokes, and a group text that’s been alive since the early 2000s (Literally!) 😊
Photo two features the newest (and fluffiest) member of the extended ProGro family. Proof that traditions evolve… and sometimes arrive with four legs and zero respect for personal space 🐾
On Saturday, Atsie attended the annual Progressive Christmas lunch: a tradition over 20 years strong. Back in the day it involved multiple houses, too many drinks, pressed CDs of everyone’s “songs of the year,” Santa appearances, and the occasional intimate moment with a garden shrub. Iconic behaviour. Who actually ended up with the Ninja Bullet from Secret Santa ‘21? 🤣
Fast forward a few decades and the format has flexed: sometimes kids, sometimes no kids, sometimes catered, sometimes a sausage sizzle. This year? Low-key backyard vibes, kids rotating between pool and soccer, a new puppy joining the chaos, and a whole lot of laughter. The cubs are now teens (or close to it), the OGs are knocking on 50, and the joy is still very much intact.
Because the magic was never about the things. It was, and is, about showing up.
✨ Choose Your Own Adventure ✨
👹 The Goblin Option
Friendsmas becomes a performance: over-the-top decor, pricey gifts, compulsory themes, social media perfection. The pressure builds, wallets cry, people tap out faster than a keg on a hot summer day, and the spirit of Christmas quietly exits stage left.
🧝‍♀️ Functional Elf Energy
Let traditions breathe. Scale up when life allows. Scale back when it doesn’t. Set budgets, do potlucks, Secret Santa, sausage sizzles, or just show up with presence instead of presents. Connection over production. Flexibility over frenzy.
🎁 If your tradition is starting to feel like “too much,” that’s your cue. Adjust the format, not the friendship. 👭👫👬
Atsie approves. Puppy definitely approves.

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