According to Medha Dutta Yadav at Mint Lounge, it is true that the last stretch is always the toughest part of the race. Sharanya (a Delhi-based Primary School teacher) coined the phrase "year-end tiredness" to explain how many of us feel drained at the end of the year due to the pressure of family obligations and the hurry to finish tasks at work.

“The typical daily routine seems oppressive and never-ending, and there is a lack of enthusiasm to finish things,” she said.

Burnout, which at the end of the year shows up as exhaustion, is a direct effect of being overworked and under stress. Physical, emotional, and psychological tiredness that is accompanied by emotions of hopelessness, helplessness, and a lack of motivation is a clear indication that we need to slow down, assess our priorities, and determine what we are neglecting. The term "fatigue" is explained by Dr Sahir Jamati, a consulting psychologist and psychotherapist and the head of the psychology department of Masina Hospital. He clarifies that this is not the same as simple drowsiness or sleepiness, while it may be one of the symptoms of fatigue, saying that "fatigue is a frequent phrase used to denote a state of the general feeling of tiredness or lack of energy."

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He added: "People occasionally get in a rush to finish work as the end of the year approaches, or have commitments made to family or business, impending deadlines, and trying to get through all the things they haven't gotten to in the entire year. People could experience fatigue plus irritability and become overwhelmed as the year comes to an end.

According to experts, it's common to experience physical and emotional difficulties in the final few months of the year, including fatigue, anger, an inability to feel happy or satisfied, and overpowering emotions. Sonal Singh, co-founder, and director of Fittr, a health and fitness community platform, claims that most people want to maximise their daily productivity by pushing themselves over their personal boundaries.

She thinks it's crucial, nevertheless, to acknowledge this ongoing fatigue. The end-of-the-year exhaustion can seem inevitable to some, just like general stress. But it is important to be aware of it since, if left unchecked, it may result in a variety of other problems, such as worry, weariness, boredom, impatience, poor concentration, and insomnia, among others. The exhaustion that people experience in November and December, according to her, is a real occurrence.

Changes in lifestyle factors, such as engaging in physical activity, getting enough sleep, limiting the use of alcohol and drugs, consuming less caffeine, eating a healthy diet, and scheduling self-care activities like visiting a spa, reading good books, practicing yoga, unwinding and taking a break from your routine or going on a nature outing with friends can all help combat burnout and fatigue.

According to Jamati, taking a digital detox can help with things like sleep, relationships, creating memories, enjoying food, etc. End-of-year exhaustion and low energy are greatly influenced by stress, therefore controlling it is crucial. Utilising mindfulness practices to manage and reduce stress can frequently prevent fatigue. To avoid mental exhaustion and counterproductive behaviour, he continues, it is important to have a realistic plan and refrain from over-committing.

When Sharanya spoke with her psychologist friend, she was given the advice to use simple techniques to fight weariness. "My friend advised me to drink a lot of water. She claimed that occasionally we experience fatigue due to slight dehydration." She was also urged by her friend to limit her consumption of coffee and tea as much as possible because of her addiction. The mother of two declares: "I have switched to green tea and decaf tea."  Because of her busy schedule with her job and daycare, she also developed a habit of skipping breakfast. She now strives to eat a nutritious breakfast every day.

Making sure you move every day and get enough sleep is another thing that can help. Making these minor adjustments has greatly benefited Sharanya."I'm now speaking positively. I've already made it through more than 300 days this year; the rest should be a piece of cake. We still have celebrations to attend. With the correct health regimen, I'm confident I can survive," she added.

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