The end of the year can be exhausting, but you can beat it.
December is both a fun and a rough month. The holidays and festivities keep everyone busy and smiling, but that constant string of tasks and events wears on a person—especially us writers. It can be hard to write when all our energy is going to prepping, handling, and enjoying the holidays.
It’s also the end of a potentially long year of “I need to hit X goal.” You wanted to revise that novel, write that novel, publish that ebook, go on that book tour, revamp your website, and so on and so on….
It’s also the end of a potentially long year of “I need to hit X goal.” You wanted to revise that novel, write that novel, publish that ebook, go on that book tour, revamp your website, and so on and so on….
This is the last few weeks to complete those goal(s) and the pressure is on. However, the motivation to actually do it is likely waning or missing.
The end of the year makes you want to push hard to finish all the things you wanted to do that year—even if there's no way you can possibly do it.
I am most definitely at this stage, as I am every year. It's a bit better than usual, since I tried super hard not to be overly ambitious with my goals this year.
But there are still several tasks on my To Do List that aren’t going to get done in 2024. My SF revision took the entire year to finish, so my website won't get done. I might finish a chapter book this month, but we'll see.
I’ve accepted that these projects will have to shift to 2025. I'd rather enjoy the holidays than burn myself out further trying to hit self-imposed deadlines.
I suspect I’m not alone in this, so here are some tips on pushing past the end-of-year fatigue and holiday stress, and getting that final goal completed:
Odds are you have a list of tasks that need to be handled and they’re hanging over you and keeping you from getting any writing done. It’s stressful being yanked in two directions, so tackle the tasks that can't wait so you can shift to your writing.
For me, that’s holiday shopping, gift wrapping, shipping packages to family and friends, making holiday treats to hand out, as well as getting all my narrative nuggets and blog posts done for December so I can take time off.
I suspect I’m not alone in this, so here are some tips on pushing past the end-of-year fatigue and holiday stress, and getting that final goal completed:
1. Give yourself time to wrap up the tasks you know are going to get in your way.
Odds are you have a list of tasks that need to be handled and they’re hanging over you and keeping you from getting any writing done. It’s stressful being yanked in two directions, so tackle the tasks that can't wait so you can shift to your writing.
For me, that’s holiday shopping, gift wrapping, shipping packages to family and friends, making holiday treats to hand out, as well as getting all my narrative nuggets and blog posts done for December so I can take time off.
(Here's more with Writers: How to Ditch Distraction and Focus)
You know what you want to get done, so be smart about how much time you allow to do it. Figuring out what you need to do every day to hit that final goal helps tremendously, and makes the task more manageable.
For me, I have this week to schedule the month, so that's a day for every week—two nuggets and one blog post. Plus the newsletter.
2. Set reasonable daily goals to finish.
You know what you want to get done, so be smart about how much time you allow to do it. Figuring out what you need to do every day to hit that final goal helps tremendously, and makes the task more manageable.
For me, I have this week to schedule the month, so that's a day for every week—two nuggets and one blog post. Plus the newsletter.
3. Find outlets for the stress.
There will be days when you need to work and can’t due to holiday stress, so prepare for them. A friend of mine recently told me of a wonderful tip she heard at a conference (I forget where and who), but the keynote speaker said she wrote for 30 minutes, then took a five-minute break and did something small—picked up, exercised, walked around the block, etc. My friend tried it and had the most productive writing day she’s had in ages.
Some other stress-relieving options:
Get out in the sunshine: Being indoors all winter can affect a person’s mood, so sit or walk in the sunshine to recharge. I know first-hand this helps, and when I’m not getting enough sunshine, I get all mopey.
Smell citrus: Some research claims that citrus activates mood hormones and can lift spirits. Try lighting a candle or dabbing some essential oil on a nearby item, or even just having some oranges. Maybe switch to a citrus shampoo or body wash.
Laugh more: Laughter is the best medicine, right? Do something every day that makes you chuckle (or better, guffaw). There are plenty of funny holiday movies, so you can mix holiday cheer with healthy laughter (my suggestion—Arthur Christmas. It’s a great movie).
Exercise: Even just taking a walk around the block to look at decorations can help relieve stress. Yoga or simple stretching can also help.
Eat well: It’s easy to binge on cookies and naughty treats, but don’t forget to toss in some vegetables and healthy snacks. Too much sugar and caffeine will wear you down faster than last-minute shopping in a crowded mall.
Get enough sleep: Sleep deprivation makes us cranky even in a normal month, but it gets worse when we add holiday stress and fatigue to it. Don’t skip the snoozes. Naps are good, but taking too-long a nap makes it harder to sleep at night, so nap effectively.
Don’t multitask: Studies have shown that trying to do it all actually doesn’t help you do it all. Task-switching actually lowers productivity. The more tasks you add, the lower your IQ gets. Focusing on one task at a time and getting it done is much more productive than doing six things at once.
4. Try something new to shake your process up a little.
Some of the end-of-year fatigue comes from repetition, so if you feel as though you’ve done this same task over and over and over, mix up how you approach it this time. Change the process a little, or work in a new location, add music, eliminate music, light a candle, write with a friend—any change can help make the task feel less tedious.
(Here's more with Want to Improve Your Writing? Change Your Thinking)
This is by far the hardest option on the list, but the one that will relieve the most stress and fatigue. It’s possible you won’t get your final goal accomplished, but worrying about it these last few weeks will only make it harder to do (unless you’re someone who truly thrives on pressure and deadlines, then go right ahead).
5. Accept that you might not get it all done, and that’s okay.
This is by far the hardest option on the list, but the one that will relieve the most stress and fatigue. It’s possible you won’t get your final goal accomplished, but worrying about it these last few weeks will only make it harder to do (unless you’re someone who truly thrives on pressure and deadlines, then go right ahead).
Tell yourself that you’ll do all you can to complete that task, make a plan to accomplish that goal, and then accept that whatever you get done is a victory.
It’ll be more than you would have gotten done had you not made this plan, so it’s a win, even if it’s not what you’d hoped.
December 31 is a deadline we all face, but it doesn’t have to be one we dread. There’s plenty to enjoy this month and we deserve to enjoy it with our friends and family. But we’re also writers, and we tend to push ourselves more than others, so we’re bound to do it again this year. Instead of stressing about it, let’s plan for it so we can have both a productive and enjoyable December.
December 31 is a deadline we all face, but it doesn’t have to be one we dread. There’s plenty to enjoy this month and we deserve to enjoy it with our friends and family. But we’re also writers, and we tend to push ourselves more than others, so we’re bound to do it again this year. Instead of stressing about it, let’s plan for it so we can have both a productive and enjoyable December.
EXERCISE FOR YOU: Take five or ten minutes and jot down what you absolutely have to get done this year. Make a quick plan on how to do that, and focus on specific tasks to actually accomplish that.
Are you facing end-of-year fatigue? Do you have a project you’re trying to finish? How do you handle the stress of the holiday season?
Are you facing end-of-year fatigue? Do you have a project you’re trying to finish? How do you handle the stress of the holiday season?
*Originally published December 2016. Last updated December 2024.
For more help on plotting or writing a novel check out my Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure.
Go step-by-step through plotting and writing a novel. Learn how to find and develop ideas, brainstorm stories from that first spark of inspiration, develop the right characters, setting, plots and subplots, as well as teach you how to identify where your novel fits in the market, and if your idea has what it takes to be a series.
With clear and easy-to-understand examples, Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure offers ten self-guided workshops with more than 100 different exercises to help you craft a solid novel. Learn how to:
Available in paperback and ebook formats.
Janice Hardy is the award-winning author of the teen fantasy trilogy The Healing Wars, including The Shifter, Blue Fire, and Darkfall from Balzer+Bray/Harper Collins. The Shifter, was chosen for the 2014 list of "Ten Books All Young Georgians Should Read" from the Georgia Center for the Book.
She also writes the Grace Harper urban fantasy series for adults under the name, J.T. Hardy.
When she's not writing novels, she's teaching other writers how to improve their craft. She's the founder of Fiction University and has written multiple books on writing.Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Indie Bound
For more help on plotting or writing a novel check out my Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure.
With clear and easy-to-understand examples, Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure offers ten self-guided workshops with more than 100 different exercises to help you craft a solid novel. Learn how to:
- Create compelling characters readers will love
- Choose the right point of view for your story
- Determine the conflicts that will drive your plot (and hook readers!)
- Find the best writing process for your writing style
- Create a solid plot from the spark of your idea
- Craft your one-sentence pitch
- Create your summary hook blurb
- Develop a solid working synopsis And so much more!
Available in paperback and ebook formats.
Janice Hardy is the award-winning author of the teen fantasy trilogy The Healing Wars, including The Shifter, Blue Fire, and Darkfall from Balzer+Bray/Harper Collins. The Shifter, was chosen for the 2014 list of "Ten Books All Young Georgians Should Read" from the Georgia Center for the Book.She also writes the Grace Harper urban fantasy series for adults under the name, J.T. Hardy.
When she's not writing novels, she's teaching other writers how to improve their craft. She's the founder of Fiction University and has written multiple books on writing.
Thanks for these suggestions. A digital detox (or at least not checking emails every 5 minutes) is also a good idea.
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard to be productive this month, between the holidays and the need to hibernate through these long winter nights. I like your plan for trying to reach my goals despite the obstacles!
ReplyDeleteI've discovered sometimes a person has to be more selfish than selfless with their time. It's tough around the holidays, but worth a try!
ReplyDelete