Festive burnout seems to be a regular occurrence for me every Christmas season. December comes round and I’m feeling like I have got no energy to do anything. Festive burnout usually means that my routine goes out the window. I literally survive and run on Christmas songs, films, hot chocolate and gingerbread. Festive burnout is real guys, honestly!
I think when November comes around, I really feel like I’m already winding down for the year. I shouldn’t let that happen, after all, I still have December to get through! So when December arrives, as much as I love the festive season, festive burnout hits me like a tonne of bricks and I suffer from a severe lack of energy and overwhelmingness.
Let’s face it, Christmas and the festive season, in general, can be an overwhelming and draining month. There is so much to think about, from presents, to buying food to entertaining people at your home (safely, of course, you know, Covid and that!) that it can be a tiring experience at times. Expectations are high and it’s important for myself and others to not overwhelm yourself into achieving so much. It’s mentally and physically draining and the last thing you want is to fall asleep on Christmas Day with a glass of mulled wine in your hand!
Sometimes, after Christmas Day, that lull between Christmas and New Year when you have no frigging idea what day it is, is definitely one of my favourite times of the year as it’s where I sit down and just chill the fuck out! Those few days are where I completely re-energise and then I feel highly motivated in the New Year and feel like I can climb Kilimanjaro!
I’ve kind of made it my mission for this December to not let festive burnout completely take over me. I’ve tried to think of different methods I can use to stop that from happening. Here are some ideas that I am going to try to help me to avoid festive burnout during Christmas:
Fit in self-care
I’m all for promoting self-care all year round, but I need to make sure I fit in self-care in between scoffing all those pigs in blankets and Lindt chocolates. Obviously not both at the same time, that’s not a good concoction. Whatever self-care is to you, do it. Make that precious time to yourself.
Plan, plan, plan!
Buy a planner, write down your festive to-do list and stay as organised as Monica Gellar at her most organised. Leaving things until the last minute at Christmas is a hell of a mistake! Also, if you plan things ahead of time, you can relax a lot more before the big day comes! I got a to-do list on my phone right now and I’ve organised all of my friend’s/family’s presents into lists and that helps an awful lot!
Not be hard on myself
This one is a really important one for me. As I said before, expectations can be awfully high at this time of year, it’s important to be gentle to myself. And you too. Don’t be so hard on yourself if you can’t get something done. It’s not worth the agonising. I know that I can’t achieve everything and that’s just the way it is, nobody’s perfect!
Please don’t be afraid to ask for help
People are there to help if needed. Especially if you’re cooking and serving the Christmas dinner with 11 people in your house. Not me, just an example! I know that if I’m struggling, I’ll ask for help. Whether that be my Mam or a friend, I’ll see if they can help in any way. That’s easier said than done though sometimes! So yes, if you’re struggling to cut all the carrots and peel the spuds, ask someone to help you out!
Just breathe
Again, this one is easier said than done. When it all gets too much, I need to learn not to panic and not fret about the situation. I need to sit down, take a few deeps breathes and do things in my own time.
I am hoping to avoid the festive burnout this season, but you never know what’s going to happen. But yes, I do want to stay as energised as I possibly can and enjoy the festive season for what it should be – happy and joyous!
