December Overwhelm: Why This Month Feels Exhausting & How to Cope
- Tracey Mudge
- Dec 6, 2025
- 4 min read
December looks festive from the outside, but inside many people are struggling more than they admit. The shops are busier, the calendar is fuller, and the pressure (financial, emotional, social, work-related) all seems to peak at the exact same time.
If you’re more stressed than excited right now, you’re not alone. December stretches people thin. It brings joy but also often exhaustion, deadlines, pressure to spend, pressure to “get everything done,” pressure to show up, and pressure to hold everything together.
And beneath all of that? A nervous system that’s had enough.
In this article, we talk about the real mental load of December and the coping strategies that can genuinely help.
Why December Hits the Mind So Hard
Your Brain Is Already Tired From the Year
By the time December arrives, most people have accumulated a full year of:
emotional responsibility
decision-making
work stress
parenting pressure
unexpected problems
relationship challenges
Your nervous system hasn’t had a proper break, and now December wants more from you than any other month. This is why even normally “small” things feel bigger right now.
December Increases Cognitive Load
Every task you normally do…now comes with three extra steps.
It’s not just “go to the supermarket”, it’s: get food + get gifts + plan events + remember donations + buy baking ingredients for school.
Your brain is processing far more than usual, which drains mental energy quickly.
Financial Pressure Activates Survival Mode
You can be perfectly emotionally healthy and still feel overwhelmed by:
gift-buying
holiday travel
school or sports fees
work events
food costs
end-of-year functions
Money pressure triggers the same biological stress response as any threat - your body reacts as if something dangerous is happening, even if you’re just thinking about your bank account.
Emotional Triggers Are Stronger
December can bring up:
grief
loneliness
family tension
memories (good and bad)
complicated relationships
pressure to appear “happy”
When you mix emotional triggers with financial stress and exhaustion, overwhelm becomes almost guaranteed.
Work and School Finish All at Once
Deadlines suddenly matter. Kids are tired and dysregulated. Workplaces want everything wrapped up before the break.
It’s a perfect storm of pressure, and the brain was never designed to handle this much intensity at once!
Coping Strategies That Support Your Mind (Not Just Your To-Do List)
These are real, practical ways to protect your mental health during December (without just adding more things to your plate)!
Adjust Your Expectations
December isn’t normal life. You don’t have normal capacity. So you can’t expect normal performance.
Give yourself permission to slow down your standards:
simpler meals
fewer outings
smaller gifts
saying no to extra responsibilities
Reducing pressure is not failure, it’s smart energy conservation.
Know Your Emotional Limits Before the Month Does
Instead of waiting until you burn out, try:
choosing one non-negotiable rest night each week
leaving events early if needed
doing brief grounding exercises before stressful gatherings
Your emotions will thank you later.
Name the Stress Instead of Silencing It
The simple act of saying, “December is a lot for me,” can release internal tension.
Stress grows in silence. Naming it regulates the nervous system and helps your mind stop fighting what you’re feeling.
Create a “Calm Point” in Every Day
This doesn’t need to be long or fancy. Choose one small thing that tells your nervous system, “We’re safe. We’re slowing down.”
It might be:
sitting in your car for two minutes before going inside
a slow shower
leaning against a wall and breathing deep for 60 seconds
listening to a calming audio track
Consistency matters more length.
Make Sleep a Priority Not a Luxury
December steals sleep with racing thoughts, emotional overload, long to-do lists, and late-night planning. But sleep is what stabilises your mood and helps you cope.
Try:
writing tomorrow’s tasks down before bed (offload the mental noise)
listening to a relaxation or self-hypnosis track
keeping bedtime roughly consistent
avoiding money conversations after 7pm
Your brain will cope better with everything when it’s rested.
Prepare for Emotional Triggers
If family gatherings, grief, or past hurts become louder in December, plan ahead:
have an exit strategy
set boundaries around people who drain you
take breaks during events
let yourself feel emotions without judgement
Preparation reduces emotional shock.
Use Self-Hypnosis and Relaxation Tools to Reset Your System
You don’t have to white-knuckle your way through December. Your mind can be supported, gently and effectively.
This is where my Tracey Lee Coaching Self-Hypnosis & Relaxation Audios can help.
They are designed to:
calm a racing mind
ease tension from the body
slow down overthinking
support emotional regulation
improve sleep
help you feel grounded again
Even ten minutes of guided relaxation can shift your entire emotional state — especially on days when everything feels too much.
They’re very affordable, easy to access, and designed for real people who are juggling real pressure.
In a month like December, they can be a lifeline.
Let Connection Be Simple (Not Perfect)
You don’t need to create magical moments. You don’t need to impress anyone.
Connection can be:
a walk together
a slow breakfast
sitting beside someone without talking
choosing presence over performance
People don’t remember the day being perfect... they remember how they FELT with you.
Final Thoughts
December stretches people far beyond their usual emotional capacity. If you're feeling overwhelmed, snappy, tired, sensitive, or just “done”, it totally makes sense! You’re trying to cope in a month that demands too much from almost everyone.
Your job isn’t to be festive.
Your job isn’t to hold everything together.
Your job is to protect your mental health in a season that challenges it.
Give yourself some softness. Use tools that support your mind. Slow down where you can.
And remember... you don’t have to carry December alone.
Need Support?
My Tracey Lee Coaching Self-Hypnosis & Relaxation Audios were created for times exactly like this... when your mind feels full and your body is tired. They’re calming, affordable, gentle, and designed to help you get through a heavy month with more ease.
And if you need deeper emotional support, counselling or coaching is available.
Visit: www.traceyleecoaching.co.nz
You deserve peace, even at the busiest time of year.
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