Avoiding Holiday Burnout

Photo via NCFCU

I love holidays and celebrations. However, if I am at the cusp of burning out in school, a point on which I am usually bordering, my social battery is exceptionally low. This makes it extremely difficult to be positive during family gatherings. It’s a bit fascinating, really – I feel exhausted before I even step into the room! If you are someone who barely survives big family dinner parties and has to partake in calming breathing exercises before entering the room, here are five tactics you can use to keep your energy levels high during our busy holiday season. Stay safe out there!

Tactic 1: Host/Food Prep

Need a break? The most underrated way of getting away from the fake smiles is to help prepare food, drinks, and take care of the guests. You still enjoy the overall ambiance without your soul crumbling into dust. For example, if someone approaches you about your grades this semester, or, in my case, what universities you’re applying to, just say, “Oh, do you smell that? I think the [...] is burning. So sorry, I’d better go check on that.” There you have it! There is always a dish that needs attention, and the person who’s interrogating you can’t complain because they most likely will want a taste of whatever you’re cooking.

Tactic 2: Busy Bee

Many try to escape to their phones, books, or other entertaining things during the holidays, but this is a rookie mistake. Your family members will see that you are attempting dissociation, which they will not stand for, and will immediately ask you, “Whatcha doin’?” To get out of any encounters like this, avoid paying your full attention to physical objects that are easily seen (this includes earbuds). Never sit in one spot for too long, because they will find you. Instead, try to blend in. This means walking around the room, sampling as many charcuterie boards as you can, and overall just looking busy. If you look like you have things to do and places to go, people are less likely to stop you for a chat.

Tactic 3: Escape to the Loo

Never underestimate a good bathroom break! If you really just need a breath or a little space, going to the “bathroom” is a great way to break free. It’s a little more difficult if the bathroom is in plain sight, so if possible, go to a “bathroom” far away from the festivities for better cover. Why is this such an effective tactic? You can get away with up to fifteen minutes of rest! If anyone asks, “Where were you? What were you doing for so long?” you can reply, “Oh, sorry, I was in the bathroom. The [...] really didn’t agree with me. What’d I miss?” After a reply like that, they’ll probably wince in understanding but won’t ask any more questions. Be wary, though—this tactic is not to be used more than once. You could probably pull it off twice at max, but three times is really suspicious, and people will probably start to feel insulted.

Tactic 4: Actually Participating

This one’s for the optimists: if you are actually trying to bring joy and enjoy yourself at a holiday festivity, then bring something you actually like doing with you! Of course, it has to be something that you can also do with a large group of people. A great example is a board game, Twister, chess, or games in general. You best believe some kindred spirit at this party will be desperate to escape another wilting conversation, so you won’t have to work hard to find willing participants. Sometimes, holiday festivities with family can actually be fun!

Tactic 5: Babysitter

If they’re tolerable, spending time with the children at the party can actually be a great way to save energy. This sounds very counterintuitive, since smaller kids can be a handful, but at least they mean what they say and say what they mean. This is probably a worst-case scenario, but it could theoretically work. What would you rather do: play a game of tag and possibly get hurt, or stand and smile and give some blasé response to a blasé question? Not all family members are disheartening, but if you are truly dying on the inside, then this could be a solution for you. Moreover, people will think you are very kind to play with the children. You might even get a few “thank you”s if the kid is a menace.