Why the End of the Year Feels So Hard (and How to Move Through It Without Burning Out)

Counting down to the end of the year is always a mixed bag.

On the surface, it’s supposed to be joyful. Holidays. Celebrations. Time with people you love. A natural pause before the calendar turns over.

But for many of us—especially those in demanding careers like healthcare—it’s also one of the most exhausting stretches of the entire year.

There’s the mental gymnastics of trying to honor everyone’s holiday. The scramble to make it to the school concert that is always scheduled at the most inconvenient time of day. The end-of-year meetings, gatherings, and social events that require a level of extroversion you simply do not have to give—especially if you’re an introvert who’s already been “on” all day at work.

There’s the pressure of gifts. The logistics. The remembering. And then there’s the quiet grief: the people who are no longer here, whose absence feels sharper this time of year no matter how much time has passed.

For those of us in healthcare, there’s another layer. Schedules get shifted so everyone can get time off. Coverage becomes tighter. You worry about patients, colleagues, and your own family getting sick and throwing off an already overly tight holiday plan. There’s very little margin for error—and absolutely no illusion that the work will magically slow down just because it’s December.

And every year, without fail, I assume I’ll be able to accomplish more than I actually can.

This is a pattern I’m aware of. One I work on intentionally. And yet it shows up most strongly at the end of the year—when I’m already depleted. I convince myself I’ll finish everything. Tie up all the loose ends. Be fully present everywhere. Start fresh in January.

Which leads straight into the familiar refrain: Things will look different next year.

We know how that usually goes. By most statistics, New Year’s resolutions don’t even make it to the second Friday in January. Not because we’re lazy or unmotivated—but because we ask too much of ourselves without changing the conditions we’re operating in.

So if the end of the year feels heavy, rushed, or quietly overwhelming, it’s not a personal failure. It’s a signal.

And there are ways to move through this season with more steadiness and less self-betrayal.

1. Say No to What Costs More Energy Than It’s Worth

Not everything deserves a yes—especially right now.

This is the time of year when invitations, requests, and “one more thing” pile up quickly. Each one might seem reasonable in isolation. But collectively, they drain you.

A helpful question to ask is: What will this cost me—not just in time, but in energy?

If the energy cost is high and the return is low (or rooted mostly in guilt or obligation), that’s information. Saying no doesn’t make you difficult or ungrateful. It makes you realistic about your limits.

And limits are not a character flaw. They are part of being human.

2. Build in Empty Space—On Purpose

One of the biggest mistakes I see (and make myself) is scheduling the end of the year as if nothing unexpected will happen.

But things always bleed over. Patients need more time. Work runs late. Kids get sick. Emotions run high. You need space to decompress—even if nothing goes “wrong.”

If your calendar is packed wall-to-wall, there’s nowhere for real life to land.

Empty space is not wasted time. It’s a buffer. It’s recovery. It’s the difference between feeling stretched and feeling snapped.

Even small pockets of unscheduled time can make this season feel more manageable.

3. Treat Sleep, Food, and Basic Care as Non-Negotiable

This is not the season to run yourself into the ground and hope you’ll “reset” in January.

Sugar, parties, disrupted routines, and late nights are already baked into the calendar. That means sleep, hydration, and nourishing food matter more, not less.

This isn’t about perfection or rigid rules. It’s about protecting your baseline so that you’re not operating at a constant deficit.

Ask yourself: What is the minimum I need to feel like myself?

Then protect that as best you can.

4. Be Wary of Overly Ambitious Resolutions

If your end-of-year reflection turns into a long list of everything you plan to fix about yourself in January, pause.

Big, vague resolutions often come from exhaustion and frustration—not clarity. And when they fail, they reinforce the false belief that you are the problem.

Instead, consider setting a small number of reasonable, specific goals. Ones that acknowledge your real life, not an idealized version of it.

Even better: pair those goals with a plan for accountability and support.

Change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens when insight meets structure—and when someone helps you notice the patterns you’re too close to see.

Moving Forward With Intention (Not Pressure)

The end of the year doesn’t have to be about squeezing in more or becoming someone different overnight.

It can be about honesty. About naming what’s hard. About choosing fewer things—and choosing them more deliberately.

If you’re craving a more grounded way to reflect, reset, and set goals that actually stick, this is exactly the kind of work I do in focused coaching sessions. Not more hustle. Not more self-criticism. Just clear priorities, realistic plans, and support that fits the life you’re already living.

You don’t need to earn rest by burning yourself out first.

And you don’t need a new year to start taking better care of yourself.

A More Supportive Way to Close the Year

If you’re feeling stretched, behind, or quietly dreading January because you know you’ll ask too much of yourself again, this is your invitation to do it differently.

Instead of another vague resolution—or a plan that collapses the moment real life shows up—you can take one focused hour to pause, get clear, and create something realistic.

For a limited time, I’m offering a discounted Laser-Focused Coaching Session designed specifically for the end-of-year transition.

The Deal:

• ✅ 60-Minute Strategic Coaching Session

• ✅ Your 2026 Accountability Map

• ✅ 25% OFF with code: QUITPROOF

In this session, we’ll identify what’s actually draining you, clarify what truly needs to change (and what doesn’t), and create a simple, doable plan that fits your real life—not an idealized one.

No pressure. No overhauls. Just clarity, support, and accountability.

If you want to end this year feeling more grounded—and start the next one without immediately burning yourself out—this is a strong, steady place to begin.

👉🏽 Book your Laser-Focused Coaching Session and use code QUITPROOF at checkout to save 25%.

You don’t need a new year to justify support. You just need a moment to stop pushing—and a plan that helps you move forward with intention.