As the end of November came into view, a lot of people kept repeating the same comforting idea. Just push through a little longer and December will finally slow everything down. Employees clung to it, bosses seemed to believe it, and even clients and event organisers acted as if the calendar would magically soften once December arrived. Now, with Christmas practically at the door, social media is full of people saying the opposite happened.
Instead of a gentle wind-down, many say this month has become one of the busiest stretches of the year. Meetings are still being scheduled like it’s mid-season, inboxes are relentless, and deadlines keep landing with zero holiday mercy. People are scrolling through festive posts while juggling calls and follow-ups, wondering why the usual end-of-year feeling hasn’t kicked in. A TikTok screenshot that’s been circulating captures the mood, with viewers piling into the comments to admit they feel like time is running out to even register that the holidays are here.
The big question popping up again and again is where the holiday spirit went. December used to come with a kind of shared permission to ease up, even just a little, as if everyone silently agreed that not every task needed to be finished before January. Now the atmosphere feels like a sprint with tinsel on top. Events stack up, work doesn’t pause, and the season starts to feel like another project to manage rather than something you get to experience.
@divyashri1 At least my outfit slays #viral #fyp #christmas #corporatelife #corporatehumor ♬ for the trans folks only – Aiden • (it's the remix)
A lot of people say the most frustrating part is that nothing feels deferrable. There’s a common wish running through posts and videos, that someone would finally say, we can leave this for next year. Instead, productivity gets measured right up to the last working day, and everyone seems determined to close as many loops as possible before the year ends. The slowdown is always promised for “after the holidays,” or “in the new year,” even though that calmer chapter rarely arrives the way it’s imagined.
In the middle of all that, classic December rituals get squeezed into the smallest corners of the day. People talk about not having time for holiday films, spontaneous meet-ups, or those unplanned evenings that make the season feel warm and unrushed. Everything runs on the constant setting of just one more thing before the break. Even joy starts to feel scheduled.
Still, many are trying to hold onto a slice of December on their own terms. Late at night, after the last email and the final to-do, they make a hot chocolate, put on a festive movie, or do one small thing that signals the year is turning. Not because they have time, but because they need a reminder that Christmas is almost here.
How do you bring back a bit of holiday feeling when work refuses to slow down, and what actually helps you switch off? Share your thoughts in the comments.
