Entering festive work drinks last week, I bumped into an acquaintance and asked how her Advent was going. She answered with a defeated sigh, admitting that she felt overwhelmed and impossibly busy. “Same here,” I replied, in something like a lament. What the popular 1963 Edward Pola and George Wyle song names the most wonderful time of the year has quietly become the most overstimulated.
According to 2025 tech analyses, December now ranks as the highest month for digital engagement worldwide, a deluge fuelled by online shopping, nonstop social media content, and end-of-year workplace demands. The World Health Organisation continues to warn of this pre-Christmas overload, which often culminates in burnout, paving the way for a January mental health crash marked by anxiety, exhaustion, and a profound sense of emptiness.
