A psychologist gave tips against burnout in the run-up to the New Year

Many people believe that New Year's holidays invariably bring joy and jubilation, but by this very moment we often find ourselves so exhausted and tired that we can simply burn out. Maria Ignatieva, a psychoanalytical psychotherapist and head of the Yasno service support service, told Izvestia on December 24 about how to prevent burnout on New Year's Eve.

"Realize that not everything has to be completed. Allow yourself to leave an unfinished task, unread books, uncreated projects. These incompletions are not a disaster, but part of your journey. After all, the most important thing in life is not the number of tasks, but the ability to focus on what really matters," Ignatieva explained.

According to her, it is important to learn to prioritize and let go of perfectionism. Close those things that are really important and allow the rest to be moved to the next year.

In addition, you should learn to disconnect from endless thinking about the future and return to the present. A simple breathing or meditation practice, even for five minutes, can help you reconnect with yourself.

"Leading up to the holidays, there are often a lot of invitations, requests and offers. We start agreeing to everything because we don't want to offend people or miss something important. However, this can lead to overload and emotional burnout. It is important to learn how to say 'no' to stay healthy and effective," said the psychotherapist.

According to the expert, getting up in the morning and checking email or social media first thing in the morning is not the best way to start the day. It's important to take small pauses to restore energy. This could be a morning ritual such as a cup of tea, a warm-up or reading inspirational literature. If it's been a busy day, you should take regular breaks, even for five minutes to get out for fresh air or just to take a deep breath.

"The habit of putting off relaxation until later often leads to being so exhausted by the time the holidays roll around that you can't enjoy your time off. Start planning ahead of time how and where you will recuperate during the holiday season. Let it be a real vacation: without work, without contacts and distractions," summarized Ignatieva.

Earlier, on December 17, psychotherapist, founder of the International Institute of Psychosomatic Health, teacher of the course "KPT" Sergei Martynov told "Izvestia" about how to set goals for the New Year. According to him, it is necessary to find out what goals a person sets for himself and what he is ready to do to achieve them. Analyzing the past year, it is important to realize that the individual has undergone changes and his or her desires have also evolved.