When the break DOESN'T FIX YOU

It's natural to feel the post-holiday blues, but what if your low mood lingers?

- By Katherine Davison

We're all familiar with feeling like we're dragging ourselves across the finish line of the year. But what happens when your summer break doesn't send you sailing into 2026 feeling refreshed and recharged? Are you just exhausted from the chaos of Christmas or could it be something deeper like burnout? Carly Dober, principal psychologist at Enriching Lives Psychology, says that burnout is a "completely different experience" to just being tired, and warns that it can contribute to or worsen mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Here, she shares what to look out for and do if you're still suffering after the holidays.

LOOK OUT FOR THE WARNING SIGNS

“Yes, exhaustion can be expected in life, but burnout isn’t something we ever want to normalise,” Dober tells WHO. While most of us are ready for a break at the end of the year, she warns that excessive demands can manifest in many ways.

“Signs of burnout include emotional exhaustion, cynicism and a reduced sense of accomplishment. Other symptoms are physical issues like fatigue, headaches and insomnia, on top of behavioural changes such as irritability, difficulty concentrating and increased procrastination.”

It’s the feeling that “no amount of sleep will lead you to recovery”, she says, adding that some people end up turning to alcohol and drugs as coping mechanisms.

BREAK THE CYCLE