Work parties, boozy friend gatherings, unnecessary Secret Santas, end-of-term duties, end-of-year deadlines, hosting and endless present shopping. It’s the month that your social life springs back into action at breakneck speed while your to-do list quadruples.

“The lead-up to Christmas combines increased social pressure, heightened expectations, financial strain , disrupted routines, and emotional triggers linked to family or past experiences,” observes Dr Ravi Gill, a psychologist and Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society (BPS). “Many people feel internal pressure for Christmas to look a certain way . We tend to push ourselves too hard; overcommitting socially, neglecting boundaries, and ignoring early signs of burnout in an attempt to meet others’ needs or uphold tr

See Full Page