December Secret Truth: The World Won’t End If You Don’t Finish Everything.
But try telling that to your brain when you’re juggling last minute work deadlines, marathon shopping sessions, and travel plans that seem to hinge on the alignment of the stars.
The holiday rush isn’t just an honoured tradition; it’s a collective chaos we somehow accept as normal. But why, year after year do we keep doing this to ourselves? Even after the holiday rush is over we say “Next year will be different.”
No it won’t.
But lets try to understand why we do this to ourselves, how it’s wrecking us, and what we can do differently this year.
Why Do We All Fall Into This Trap?
The pre-holiday frenzy isn’t just a coincidence.
It’s a predictable cycle driven by forces we all experience but rarely stop to question. The pressure to juggle work, personal obligations, and the elusive dream of a “perfect holiday” turns even the most organized among us into chaos machines.
Here’s why:
- The Corporate Year End Gauntlet December in the workplace feels less like a month and more like an obstacle course. Suddenly, every email is “URGENT,” long forgotten projects reappear as high priority, and performance reviews dangle overhead like storm clouds. The race to wrap everything up before the holidays makes work feel more like an endurance test than a productivity boost.
- Holiday Prep Overload As if work isn’t enough, the holidays come with their own mile long to do list. Decorations, gift buying, meal planning, and travel arrangements all demand your attention. All while your calendar is already packed. It’s like taking on a second full time job, except no one’s paying you for this one.
- The Fresh Start Fallacy We’re all drawn to the idea of starting the new year with a clean slate… everything finished, everything in its place. But let’s be real: cramming a year’s worth of unfinished tasks into December isn’t realistic. The “new year, new me” dream feels great in theory, but in practice, it’s just another source of stress.
How This Chaos Wreaks Havoc on Your Life
Rushing to get it all done isn’t just stressful, it’s straight up bad for you.
- Burnout Levels Hit an All-Time High in Decemeber Studies show that most workers already do unpaid overtime up to 19 million extra days a month in the UK alone. Add holiday stress to the mix, and you’re looking at prime burnout season.
- Your Immune System is Over It Ever notice how you fall sick exactly when the holidays begin? That’s because stress weakens your immune system, leaving you vulnerable to the cold going around at your office party.
- Productivity Actually Tanks Despite the frenzy, trying to cram everything in at once leads to mistakes, missed details, and half-finished projects. You’re not Superman, you’re just tired.
Why We Keep Doing This (Even When We Know Better)
If we all hate the rush, why do we still sprint headfirst into it every year?
It’s simple: we’re wired for it. Society glorifies being busy. Companies set year end goals that feel impossible to meet. And let’s face it, we’re our own worst enemies, setting expectations for perfection that no human could meet.
How to Take Back Control This Year
This year, let’s break the cycle. Here’s how to make December less of a dumpster fire:
- Once A Week Power Hour(s) Set aside some time midweek, I usually go for Wednesday and catch up on anything that’s slipped through the cracks. Use this time to tackle small tasks or larger ones you’ve been putting off, dedicating as much time as necessary to get them done. Once you’ve cleared those, spend 15-30 minutes organizing and planning the rest of your week. You’ll be amazed at how much clarity and momentum this simple habit can bring to your schedule.
- Redefine Success: Not everything needs to get done before December 31st. Start asking yourself: “What actually matters?” Spoiler, it’s probably not that extra meeting or perfectly wrapped gift.
- Set a Stress Boundary: Decide now when you’ll stop working, shopping, or prepping each day, and stick to it. Burnout isn’t festive.
- Plan Less, Enjoy More: Keep your holiday to do list simple. A heartfelt gift beats a pile of stuff. A chill night with friends beats a 3 course dinner. Pick quality over quantity every time.
Here’s the Big Truth
The holidays aren’t about finishing everything they’re about connecting with what (and who) matters most. So this year, let’s ditch the madness. Let’s prioritize what brings us joy, not stress.
Remember: December will always be busy. But how you experience it? That’s up to you.
