Endings naturally bring about grieving. As 2024 comes to a close, the common phenomenon known as the “end-of-year blues” tends to surface. This feeling manifests in various ways, including sadness, anxiety and general discontentment. All of which can be attributed to several factors that many of us experience during a holiday season and the transition into a new year.
One of the primary contributors to the end-of-year blues is the overall feeling that accompanies the conclusion of the calendar year, which we often attribute to “one year older, one year wiser”. We find ourselves looking back at the year, our achievements, our setbacks and sorrows which can easily prompt feelings of regret or disappointment. This introspection can lead to an overwhelming sense of inadequacy, if we feel we have not made significant progress towards our personal or professional goals.
Moreover, the holiday season, while often celebrated with joy and family gatherings may evoke feelings of loneliness and isolation. Holidays, albeit joyful for some, can bring on feelings of moroseness for others, especially for those who are separated from loved ones, by distance or conflict.
Additionally, the pressure to meet societal expectations around holiday celebrations can further exacerbate feelings of inadequacy. Enhanced social media representation, perfect family gatherings and festive experiences can create unrealistic standards that many people struggle to meet.
The end of the year also brings about added stress which further exacerbates our emotional confusion. It’s a concoction of exhaustion and excitement, joy and stress, end-of-year blues and New Year anticipation. Work deadlines tend to pile up and the rush to complete projects before the year ends can lead to a chaotic environment. The combination of stressors can accumulate in overwhelming feelings that contribute to the overall sense of malaise as the year concludes.
Recognising the existence of end-of-year blues is the first step towards managing it effectively. With awareness comes understanding, which precedes action and therefore transformation and change.
Give yourself grace in this weird headspace, where we can often feel we are in limbo and haven’t achieved half the things we were hoping or expecting to, by the end of the year. Embracing your struggles with kindness and giving yourself compassion instead of comparing yourself to others, is the first step.
Rather than focusing on everything you did not accomplish this year, set yourself a road map for the coming year. Break down larger aspirations into manageable steps, which can help alleviate feelings of overwhelm. Instead of solely reflecting on the past, create a vision board for 2025. Engaging in this forward thinking mindset can instill hope and excitement.
Make sure you self-evaluate, beware of self-criticism, reassess expectations, neutralise rumination and reduce your choices.
The end-of-year blues is a common yet overlooked emotional experience. By understanding its causes and implementing supportive strategies, we can navigate this challenging time with greater resilience. Embracing the change of the year can ultimately lead to a renewed sense of purpose and motivation, making way for a brighter and more fulfilling new year ahead.
Hyesha Barrett
The author is a Master Life Coach and NLP Practitioner based in Muscat.
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