Why is December So Stressful?
Are you staring at your December diary wondering how you’re meant to survive the next few weeks?
Your calendar is stacked, work is peaking, the year is wrapping, and every pocket of breathing room has been swallowed by plans.
There’s no wiggle room. No time to feel spontaneous or free.
(And then you’ve got Christmas with the family sitting at the end of it all…)
Here’s the part most people miss:
Anxiety and overwhelm are usually a mind racing too far ahead. When you don’t contain your focus, the future becomes a threat instead of a plan.
You end up bracing for things that, once they arrive, might not even register as stressful.
Two shifts to take the pressure down fast:
Your diary isn't a contract: When the day arrives and your body says no to the work drinks or the extra catch-up, you’re allowed to listen.
Your mind predicts worst-case by default: This is your negativity bias. December might look impossible from here, but lived reality is usually softer, lighter, and far more manageable than the preview running in your head.
(Exploring your family dynamics in therapy can be an incredibly necessary way to get through December with more ease)
Practice: The December Boundary Check
This is a tiny decision-making filter that stops automatic yes’ing.
Before agreeing to anything this month, ask:
Does this energise me or drain me?
If I skipped it, what’s the actual consequence?
Will future-me thank me or resent me?
This will pull you out of the social autopilot (and people pleasing) and back into conscious choice.
If you’d like to explore your tendency to live in the future rather than the present, we're currently booking new clients. Book a free call today.