Are you feeling the Christmas Crawl and just want the year to end?
Do you feel like you’re limping along, hobbling to the imaginary finish line that is the end of the year? Are you feeling a sense of fatigue and melancholy as the end of the year approaches and simply just feeling ‘over it’?
Well, you’re certainly not alone. And the reason for this can be attributed to the stress of the last couple of years; a little bit like experiencing burnout. Plus, add to this the increasing financial pressures of our current economy and it’s no wonder we’ve all completely burned through our emotional and energetic reserves and are likely to be pouring from an empty cup.
And when the tank is empty, everything feels especially hard — we’re not that patient, resilient person we usually are and we may even feel like we’ve lost the joy for the things that would usually light us up (like Christmas!).
The good news is — it is not in your head. Many people I’ve been speaking to are in the same boat! The other good news is there are things we can do to help increase our energy levels, feel less stressed and improve our mental resilience.
Here are a few tips:
1. Embrace the craziness of Christmas
Accepting that life is going to feel like a hard slog at this time of year is necessary. Life is easier when you consent to the fact that it can feel chaotic at times. By embracing and accepting how ‘crazy-busy’ it is at the moment stops us struggling with wishing it to be otherwise.
Acceptance is hard to do, but you can do this by ‘recognising’ and ‘acknowledging’ when you are feeling weary and overwhelmed, as well as, ‘recognising’ and ‘acknowledging’ any unhelpful thoughts that may also be popping up (e.g. “When will this year end? I’m exhausted. I’ve over this”). By doing so, helps to remind us that these thoughts and emotions are part of being human and very normal to be experiencing this time of year. Being fine with the craziness means it loses a lot of its power over us.
2. Stop comparing yourself to others
We are constantly comparing ourselves to others, whether we are aware of it or not. So we need to let go of ideals and stop wishing for perfection. It doesn’t matter if your Christmas decorations don’t look as great as your next door neighbours or whether you can afford the trendiest, big ticket items for your kids as Christmas gifts this year. Instead be grateful for what you do have.
3. Be Grateful
Be thankful for all that you have. A home, a loving family, food on your plate, running water, your health. Be grateful that you likely have your basic needs met and live in a civilisation that is free from hunger, war, and is relatively safe. When we find ourselves feeling dismal about our current situation, we should remind ourselves billions of people would give anything to trade places with us. And to be clear, I’m not trying to create feelings of guilt either. I’m just offering up a different way of looking at things because sometimes stepping outside of our current situation allows us to see things from a different perspective and gives it a new light.
4. Do a bit of self-care
Take the time to refill your cup. This might be putting up boundaries with friends and family and deciding which social gatherings and parties you wish to prioritise and those that you could do without — and instead, consider having a night-in on the couch and get an early night’s sleep. Getting increased sleep will help shift your energy and outlook almost immediately. Our bodies and brains need sleep to repair and restore our energy, so try to increase the amount of sleep you are getting each night. And maybe if friends or family wish to meet up — go for a walk or meet at a park where you can walk around or avoid excessive food or alcohol intake (which we all know makes us feel sluggish).
5. Be Present
Cherish the everyday. You need to savour the moment now instead of wishing that Christmas was over and done with. This reminds me of that famous quote by John Lennon ‘life is what happens while you are busy making other plans’. So notice things around you more, what you can see, hear, smell, touch and taste and be present in the moment, right here and now.
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So, if you have been feeling depleted lately, there are actions that you can take that are within your control that can help. Learning to accept and lean into the difficult feelings you’re experiencing, not comparing yourself to others and engaging in some gratitude and self-care will all serve you well in increasing your personal reserves and resilience and turn your Christmas Crawl into Christmas Cheer!