Enjoy year-end parties without social burnout

Keep your social battery on high charge for year-end gatherings by setting firm boundaries, opting for quality interactions and oodles of self-care

- Divya Naik

As the year draws to a close, there is a whirlwind of parties, gatherings, and social commitments. These occasions foster a sense of connection and joy, but they also bear the risk of bringing on emotional and physical exhaustion, commonly referred to as "social battery burnout."

Most of us are familiar with the idea of "burnout" in professional settings. Social exhaustion is just as real and can leave us feeling drained, irritable, and overwhelmed during what should be the happiest time of the year.

What is social battery? The term serves as a metaphor for the fluctuating reserves of energy we bring to social interactions. "It represents a combination of emotional, cognitive, and physiological resources available to an individual during social engagements," explains Komal Kaira, an integrative psychologist based in Mumbai.

Socializing isn't just about showing up and talking—it requires effort to read social cues, manage reactions, and empathize with others, all of which expend energy. As Gurugram-based clinical psychologist Shevantika Nanda notes, "Our social batteries, much like those in devices, need recharging after depletion."