Feeling Tired After Christmas? You’re Not Alone.
Why You Feel Exhausted After the Christmas Break
Are you approaching the new year feeling drained? Maybe you thought you’d finally get time to rest and have some cosy moments with the people you love. But now the break is ending and you feel more tired than when it began. You need a holiday from your holiday. And the thought of “New Year, New You” makes you want to scream.
The Pressure of Keeping Everyone Happy
No wonder you’re worn out. You’ve spent the last couple of weeks trying to juggle everyone’s expectations.
Don’t even mention Christmas Day, battling to spend Christmas Eve in your own home, your children opening presents only to be bundled into the car to see Granny, while taking calls from other grandparents who aren’t shy about their disappointment that they won’t see the children until Boxing Day despite the fact their other grandchildren are there. It feels like you’re always letting someone down.
When Family Love Still Feels Draining
You adore your family and feel lucky your children have such loving grandparents. But it can still feel exhausting. You try so hard to keep everyone happy, yet worry that no one truly is. You and your husband certainly aren’t. Even the granny who gets Christmas Day isn’t satisfied because you didn’t stay for Christmas Eve.
Sometimes you just wish you could spend Christmas at home, in your pyjamas, with your own little family. But just thinking this makes you feel so guilty.
Moments of Joy Mixed With Overwhelm
There were joyful moments but they were overshadowed by the constant awareness that soon you’d need to pack up, drive somewhere else and be “on” again. You longed to sleep in your own bed, not a sofa bed in someone else’s house.
Every year you promise yourself next year will be different. And every year you wonder why you can’t be more like your sister, who simply opts out of the chaos and lets others grumble.
Before You Plan Next Christmas… Pause
It might feel early, but right now, while the experience is fresh, is the perfect time to gently reflect.
Ask yourself:
Which parts did I genuinely enjoy?
Which parts felt too much?
How would I like to feel next time?
You’re allowed to look honestly at your experience. You’re allowed to say “that wasn’t okay” and use that to shape next year differently.
Feeling Burnt Out After Christmas Is More Common Than You Think
If you’re looking forward to going back to work just to get a rest, you’re not alone.
If being constantly surrounded by people felt exhausting, you’re not the only one.
This doesn’t mean you’re ungrateful or selfish, it means you’re human.
Start the New Year Slowly
Give yourself permission to move gently into January. The “New Year New You” mindset can wait until spring. The darker winter months are a natural time for rest, before electric light, people slept longer simply to save candles!
Small, Manageable Steps for a Better Christmas Next Year
If you want to make changes, start small. Let your ideas be just ideas for now:
A note in your phone
A new notebook for next-Christmas thoughts
A message to yourself to open next December
If This Resonated, Therapy Could Support You
If you’re struggling with how you’re feeling after Christmas, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Sometimes a few sessions can bring clarity and confidence to help you shape the life and Christmas you want.
You don’t need to know exactly what you need. Just send a message, and we can begin from there.
