Coping with end-of-year fatigue

As you inch toward the end of the 2024 work year, you may find yourself burning out. Fatigue is making itself known and you wonder how you’ll make it to holiday time without burning out.

You’re not alone. Many feel super stressed before a well-deserved break at the end of the year. What’s challenging is how to tackle potential burnout in the best way possible.

The good news is that the practical tips in this article can help you move through the rest of December without crashing.

Get your priorities right

Assess what’s on your plate and be ruthlessly realistic about what you can achieve before the holidays. A quick audit is the best start.

What is truly urgent and can’t wait? What can wait until 2025, even if you really want to start your break with a clean slate? A great idea is to dissect large projects and divide them into smaller components. While it might be essential to complete some milestones, perhaps others can comfortably wait.

If you’re struggling, chat to your manager about setting priorities, given the number of weeks left in the calendar year. Then focus on what’s essential and erase all other tasks from your mind until 2025.

Read more: How to turn unproductive into productive

Exercise self-care to cope

While you’re in a better place now that you’ve set your priorities, you may still feel overwhelmed. Self-care is a huge factor in managing end-of-year burnout. Do your best to:

• eat well—ditch junk food for lighter meals featuring fruit and veg
• stay hydrated—drink plenty of water and monitor your alcohol intake
• Christmas parties—get out there and enjoy life but don’t overdo it by being the last person to leave
• prioritise sleep—although tempting to work late into the night and on weekends, it’s better to hit the sack and zzzzz
• practice breathing—regular deep breathing helps you feel calm and more in control (search breathing exercises online)
• get fresh air—now’s the time to take breaks during the work day. Walk outside. Even a short, 0-minute stroll will work wonders.

Read more: How to spot and act on work burnout

Ask for help

While everyone in the office is racing to get to the finish line, that shouldn’t stop you from asking for help. Think about these potential solutions:

• Delegate—Is it possible to delegate some work to relieve the pressure, even small but time-consuming administrative tasks?
• Suggest temporary help—Can you pitch to your organisation that bringing in temporary help can be cost-effective and help you (and perhaps others) make that final push?
• Internal support—Can you reach out to colleagues and your manager to brainstorm ways to gain greater efficiencies?
• External support—Why not talk to family and friends about your stress load to see if they have ideas? If not, at least they’ll better understand your state of mind.
• Talk to your Employee Assistance Program or Human Resources personnel—Can you tap into an Employee Assistance Program or HR experts, knowing that even talking out loud about what you’re facing may make you feel somewhat better?

Respect work-life boundaries

During the last weeks of 2024, set and respect healthy work-life boundaries. Avoid checking your work phone after hours. Refrain from monitoring emails after work hours. Unplug and reset.

This may involve communicating your boundaries to work colleagues. Explain where you’re at and outline your need for quality downtime outside of 9 to 5, from now until you sign off for the year.

Read more: Tips for achieving work-life balance

Don’t feel guilty

Although you may be worried you’re leaving for the break without finishing everything on your plate, don’t weigh yourself down with negative emotions. It’s not like you’ve solely created the massive workload you’re facing. And will the world end if you shut your office door on 2024 without everything completed 100%?

Enjoy your break

When you finally get there … and are on break, don’t waste precious time thinking about work and what you need to do when you return to the office in 2025.

Push all work-related matters out of your mind and enjoy family, friends and summertime. This will ensure you get the most out of your holidays and—importantly—return to the office in the New Year feeling refreshed and recharged.

On your return …

Start the New Year by ditching bad work habits.

Read more: Ditch bad work habits before the New Year