Christmas Burnout

Christmas burnout is common – here are a few ways to feel better

If the Xmas season has got you feeling run down and overwhelmed, consider chatting with a family member or friend. It can really help lighten your load. We’re also here, if you’d like to talk free and anonymously with one of our trained councillors.

Call or chat to a counsellor

The heart of it

It’s OK if Christmas feels stressful – lots of people feel the same way.
Money pressure, family expectations, and endless plans can make December feel like a marathon.
Signs of burnout include fatigue, irritability, poor sleep, and wishing the holiday season was over.
Small changes help: scale back, say no, plan in steps, take breaks, and skip comparison traps.

What holiday burnout can feel like

Every year Christmas rolls around, and for many so does the stress and exhaustion that comes with it. But feeling stretched thin doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. Lots of us feel this way, and it’s okay if you do too.

What contributes to Christmas burnout?

Christmas can be joyful, but it can also be exhausting.

Here’s how burnout can show up:

Overcommitment: too many events, too little time
Family tension: complicated relationships or expectations
Financial strain: gifts, travel, meals, hosting costs
Social comparison: chasing Instagram-perfect moments
End-of-year deadlines: work projects/school events piling up

"It’s a relief to be able to say here honestly I don’t find Christmas as joyous as TV adverts suggest. And the build up of expectations for at least the two months prior to Christmas is relentless."

– Beyond Blue Forum User

Join the conversation at the Beyond Blue forums

Signs you might be experiencing Christmas burnout

What contributes to Christmas burnout?

Burnout feels different to different people, and it’s not always an obvious feeling. Here’s some main signs that people often mention:

Constant fatigue
Irritability or feeling snappy
Trouble sleeping
Feeling like you “just want the Christmas holidays to be over”

Remember, these signs don’t mean you’re failing, far from it, they're actually quite common.

Practical tips if you’re feeling overwhelmed

Burnout feels different to different people, and it’s not always an obvious feeling.

Here’s some main signs that people often mention:

Simplifying plans: it’s okay to scale back
Setting boundaries: saying “no” is a form of self-care
Breaking tasks down: spread shopping and prep over weeks
Budgeting realistically: Kiris Kringle, homemade gifts, or gift-free agreements
Taking micro-breaks: a walk, a quiet coffee, or a few deep breaths
Limiting social media: avoid comparing your experiences with others

Remember, these signs don’t mean you’re failing, far from it, they're actually quite common.

Try the K10 test

This quick online tool can help you understand your symptoms and point you toward the right support.

Your answers and your result are anonymous. And you decide what you want to do with your result.

Check out the test

We’re here for you at Christmas and throughout the year

If you want to talk to someone about feeling overwhelmed at Christmas or for any other reason that’s getting you down, you can chat to a councillor free and confidentially, 24/7 all year long.

Get in touch

An illustration of a person with short black hair, wearing a yellow shirt and blue pants, holding a smartphone, with a burnout gauge above showing the needle in the blue zone.

Try our Burnout Check-In Tool

This short online quiz can help you measure how you’re feeling and get some practical tips to help you recover a healthy balance.

Start the burnout check-in

Circle version of Christmas appeal 2025 case study

Help us be there for someone feeling alone this Christmas

When someone who is feeling desperately alone, anxious, depressed or overwhelmed decides to reach out to Beyond Blue for help, we need to be here for them.

Every donation helps keep Beyond Blue’s support services available 24/7, every day of the year. If you’re able to, a donation over Christmas is a potentially life-saving gift.

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