Festive or Fatigued? Your Guide to Understanding and Beating Year-End Fatigue

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: Christmas lights glowing and jingle bells ringing! But for most it’s not so wonderful. The lights feel dim and there is no joy ringing. Many are starting to feel burnt out, demotivated, discouraged and others edging towards depression: Year end fatigue is kicking in.

Year End fatigue catches you by surprise. After many months of performing your best, putting on a brave face and meeting endless obligations: you find yourself drained and unmotivated and unable to be the YOU you know. Let’s talk about it!

What’s causing Year End Fatigue?

The Weight of a Year’s Work

Over the months, demands accumulated: meetings and projects; assignments and tests; home and friends. Multitasking takes a toll, often without us noticing. We push through exhaustion, telling ourselves that rest can wait until the holidays, but by the end of the year, that delay catches up with us. The result is burnout: a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion where even small tasks feel overwhelming. The emotional labor of managing relationships, workplace dynamics and life’s demands can leave you feeling depleted.

Social obligations

Year-end often means back-to-back events: office parties, family gatherings, weddings, neighborhood functions and friend meet-ups. Even if you enjoy these occasions, attending multiple events in this short time can drain your  energy. The social calendar can feel overwhelming rather than joyful.

Emotional labour of being with family

The holidays are a time to reconnect with family and take cute portraits for wonderful memories made. However, family gatherings can be emotionally complex. Managing expectations, navigating disagreements or simply “putting on a happy face” requires emotional effort. You may find yourself in-between conflicts or suppressing frustrations just to keep the peace. This kind of mental energy can lead to fatigue.

Social comparison pressure

Social media amplifies the pressure to be successful, happy and festive during this time. Seeing friends post about trips, expensive gifts or celebrations can trigger anxiety or self-doubt. Even offline, comparing yourself to peers’ achievements or lifestyles during year-end reflections can contribute to a feeling of being “behind” or inadequate.

Care giving responsibilities

Parents, guardians and caregivers face added pressure at year-end: schools close, children are home and relatives may come over. This often means extra chores and fewer moments to recharge. Caregivers can feel stretched too thin resulting in an immense exhaustion this time of the year

Mental pressure and disappointments

The end of the year is a natural time to reflect on accomplishments and setbacks. For some, reviewing unachieved goals, missed opportunities or ongoing struggles can trigger anxiety, regret or disappointment. This mental load builds up gradually, often unnoticed until it manifests as fatigue.

So how can we still be festive in the face of fatigue?

Quick cues to remember to handle year end fatigue

Prioritize Rest ❤️ Sleep and downtime are non-negotiable.

Set Boundaries ❤️ You don’t have to say yes to everything. Politely decline events or tasks that drain you.

Simplify Your To-Do List ❤️ Focus on essentials and let go of perfectionism. Simplify gifts, meals and decor

Share responsibilities ❤️ with family, friends, or colleagues. From cooking to shopping to event planning, letting others pitch in reduces your load and strengthens bonds.

Reconnect With Joyful Activities ❤️ Engage in hobbies, music, walks or reading: the attitude to do anything that brings you calm and happiness.

Practice Mindfulness ❤️ Stay present in the moment rather than worrying about what’s next. Mindful breathing, gratitude journaling or a few minutes of meditation can reduce stress and restore balance.

Nourish Your Body ❤️ Eat well, stay hydrated, and move your body gently. Physical health strongly supports mental resilience, especially when fatigue sets in.

Seek Support if Needed ❤️If burnout feels severe or persistent, don’t hesitate to talk to a trusted friend, friend mentor, or professional. Sometimes sharing your load is the best way to recover.

Make time to see your mental health professional.

In the midst of the events and the planning and the appearances, you may forget to have a quick check in with your psychologist. But a moment with your mental health professional can provide a sense of relief, a moment to rest and time to put everything into perspective. Here at Gateway Mental Health, we’ll be open and prioritising you every moment of this season

Festive with a friend: a guide that can help

The book “Me and My Emotions” by Dr Farzana Naeem and Shanaya Sidhu can be that friend that walks you through Year End Fatigue and helps you beat it so you can fully enjoy your festive season. The book provides emotional management in a way that will help you reflect, renourish and receive all the love and joy that the festive season has to give.

Visit us at 16 McLaren Road, Milton Park, Harare to purchase a copy and Happy Holidays! 🌟