Q. When the year-end chaos hits – deadlines, targets, social events – how do you keep from burning out before the holidays even start? I wonder if it’s too late to bother trying to ‘find balance’? Am I better off just riding it out and writing it off?
I hear you. The end of the year has a way of amplifying everything – work pressure, family dynamics, financial stress, and that nagging sense we should be wrapping things up neatly.
It’s typically that time of year where people describe themselves ‘white-knuckling’ their way through each day – trying not to lose their cool as they deal with excessive heat, traffic, and a ridiculously long to-do list.
While it’s tempting to just ‘roll with it’, I believe it’s never too late to reset, but it is too late to keep pretending we can do it all perfectly.
So, perhaps instead of chasing balance, it might feel more achievable to look for rhythm. Some days will be full throttle – others, you’ll be able to downshift. A quick walk between meetings, saying no to one more catch-up, or closing the laptop 30 minutes earlier – it all counts. Micro-recovery beats macro-meltdown every time.
If you’re carrying the mental load, ask yourself: what can wait until next year? Not everything deserves your end-of-year energy. Give yourself permission to leave some boxes unticked. And if you’re already running on fumes, remember this golden nugget: rest is not a reward for surviving – it’s the fuel for performing.
Write that down and stick it on the fridge!
So, no, you don’t need to try to overhaul your life before January. But you can decide to end the year differently: a little less frantic, a little more deliberate, and with enough left in the tank to actually enjoy the break you’ve earned.
If you have a question that you’d like answered by psychotherapist Bronwyn Penhaligon in the Your Health in Mind section of The Adviser, you can email your question in confidence to [email protected].
Or if you feel you need more support, you can visit penhaligons.com.au to schedule a one-on-one appointment.
