We're all tired, right? Like, so tired? Like, all we want to do is lie under a blanket eating chocolate and watch The Holiday tired? We call it festive burnout.
After all, it's December. It's been a long year and we're almost at the end. We're at peak tiredness now, but at least it will be Christmas soon. If we can just get through these last few weeks of December, we'll be ok. At least, that's what we like to tell ourselves.
But, of course, in reality, the holiday period can often be even more stressful than the rest of the year. Making festive burnout even worse, there's the added stress of buying gifts, visiting family, decorating the house, planning Christmas dinner — the list goes on and on. So, by the time Christmas is over, we often return to work feeling more exhausted than ever. Queue the burnout panic.
But don't fear — festive burnout doesn't have to be quite so awful. We spoke to Dr Becky Spelman, psychologist and founder at Private Therapy Clinic to find out what we can do about it.
You only need 30 seconds to find out if you ‘click’ with someone.
By December, we are all tired. Not only is work often ramped up as the year comes to a close, the pressure of the holidays can take its toll. December can find us taking on countless annoying extra tasks, from running around looking for last-minute gifts to deep-cleaning the house for guests to planning our Christmas meals.
“The winter season often involves more social activities, shopping and travel, which can disrupt regular routines and lead to fatigue," says Spelman. "The end of the year is often busy with work deadlines and completing tasks before the new year. Combined with colder weather and less daylight, these factors can definitely increase tiredness.”
Plus, we also have a tendency to think of Christmas as a magical finish line — a time when all of the burnout that has built up over the year will finally disappear. But as Spelman notes, this kind of thinking can do more harm than good.
“Christmas often feels like a finish line because it represents the end of the year and a time for rest and celebration as we mark the completion of tasks and goals throughout the year,” she says. “Milestones and deadlines can provide structure to our lives, but placing too much emphasis on reaching the finish line can lead to burnout and neglecting self-care and well-being.”
It’s one day in a possibly very hard year, and it’s allowed to be just okay.
By the time Christmas comes around, many of us anticipate that we'll have a chance to finally unwind. After a few days of festive cheer, we imagine, we'll return to the office for the new year feeling refreshed and ready for a new start — but of course, it's rarely that simple.
“Despite being an opportunity to relax, many people return from Christmas feeling more stressed due to high expectations, family obligations, financial strain, a packed schedule and the pressure to create the perfect festive experience,” Spelman explains.
In fact, we often return to “normal” life feeling more stressed than ever.
“Routines are disrupted as we lose track of time, and post-Christmas blues can contribute to increased stress. This comes at a time where many people are already experiencing symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).”
‘My ethos is very much about balance.’
So, the holidays aren't actually the stress-free, burnout-curing time we all hope they will be — is there anything we can do about it?
According to Spelman, it's all about setting personal boundaries and prioritising yourself (when you can).
She suggests:
- Establish clear work-life boundaries and communicate these to colleagues.
- Limit screen time and social media usage and instead, engage in activities that bring joy and relaxation, like reading, exercising, or spending time in nature.
- Embrace 'cosy season' and practice mindfulness or meditation to reduce stress.
- Spend quality time with loved ones, create memories, and nurture meaningful relationships.
- Although the temptation to indulge always lurks at Christmas, try to maintain a healthy lifestyle! This includes eating a balanced diet, exercising and making sure you get enough sleep.
