The end of the year often feels like a whirlwind — a time for celebration and connection but also an emotionally and physically draining stretch of weeks. Between wrapping up work projects, planning holiday gatherings, and managing self-imposed expectations, it’s no wonder many of us feel completely burned out before the new year even begins.

Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. It often shows up differently for everyone but can include signs like sleepless nights, irritability, demotivation, and a sense of disconnection. Left unchecked, burnout can damage mental and physical health, making it harder to recharge when you need it most.

Fortunately, with a few thoughtful strategies, you can reduce burnout and approach the end of the year with greater energy and optimism. Inspired by insights from Woodruff Woodruff, founder of Organize 365, here are five practical, achievable steps to help you turn the season’s chaos into an opportunity for reflection and renewal.

1. Reclaim your time with “planned neglect”

Not every task, tradition, or event is worth your energy, especially if it adds unnecessary stress. Woodruff calls this approach “planned neglect,” where you intentionally decide which activities to skip. “We spend so much time living in programs plated for us by others,” she explains. By reassessing your priorities, you can free yourself from unnecessary obligations.

For example, skipping elaborate holiday decorations doesn’t mean you lack holiday spirit — it simply means you’re choosing to focus on what matters most to you. Woodruff adds, “Once you’re happy with your decision, you don’t have to justify it to anyone.” Whether it’s a smaller tree or no tree at all, trust that your choices are valid and enough.

2. Set boundaries to create calm

Clear boundaries help create the time and space you need to relax. Woodruff shares a simple but powerful routine: After dinner, she cleans the kitchen, turns on the under-cabinet lights, and declares the kitchen closed. This boundary signals the end of her workday and gives her permission to relax guilt-free.

Think about where you can set similar boundaries. Maybe it’s limiting social obligations, setting work emails aside after a certain hour, or creating a peaceful wind-down routine in the evening. These small acts can make a big difference in how you feel at the end of each day.

3. Embrace the power of “one more thing”

Burnout often comes from feeling like you’re constantly catching up. Woodruff suggests a simple but effective mindset shift: Before leaving a room or finishing a task, ask yourself, “What’s one more thing I could do right now that I won’t have to do later?”

This might mean wiping the counter after making coffee, wrapping a gift right after buying it, or loading the dishwasher before bed. “Those little moments add up,” she explains. Completing small tasks in real-time reduces mental clutter and frees up your future self from unnecessary stress.

4. Prioritize connection over perfection

Amid the holiday bustle, it’s easy to get caught up in various distractions and endless to-do lists. But Woodruff reminds us that our connection with others truly matters during this time of year. “The things I enjoy most about the holidays are the moments spent with people, not the stuff,” she says.

Shift your focus away from striving for perfection and toward meaningful interactions. Instead of overloading your schedule with tasks, carve out time for activities that bring joy, whether it’s a cozy movie night with family or a quiet evening catching up with friends.

Bonus tip: Reflect and recharge

As the year winds down, take a moment to reflect on what’s gone well and what you’d like to improve in the new year. Journaling can be a helpful way to organize your thoughts, process emotions, and set goals for the months ahead.

This year, let’s reclaim the end of the year as a time for joy, growth, and connection. By setting boundaries, making intentional choices, and focusing on what truly matters, you can greet the new year feeling refreshed and ready to thrive.

Feeling overwhelmed? Take a moment to reflect on what matters most. Explore tools like the Mentavi Mental Wellness Snapshot to gain personalized insights into your mental health and prepare for the road ahead.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., September 12, 2024 (Newswire.com) – Mentavi Health, a leading provider of mental health diagnosis and treatment, under the Mentavi and ADHD Online brands, just introduced the Mentavi Mental Wellness Snapshot, which offers patients periodic insight into the current state of their mental health. 

The Mentavi Mental Wellness Snapshot, available at Mentavi.com, is a mental health tool designed to provide a quick, accessible gauge of one’s mental wellness. It takes about 20 minutes to complete and costs $29.99 for an individual one-year subscription, with the option for employers to cover the cost for entire employee populations. The assessment provides a “Mental Wellness Score” of Green Zone (all is well), Yellow Zone (consider some proactive actions), and Red (seek further specialist help). The Wellness Score is also presented on a scale from 1 to 10, with further detailed breakdowns across 15 underlying clinically validated screeners in areas such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, dementia warning signs, ADHD, loneliness, and more. 

The Snapshot is meant to be taken periodically (every 3-6 months), allowing the user to establish a personal benchmark, to monitor their mental wellness over time, and to determine if a more comprehensive evaluation, like the Mentavi Diagnostic Evaluation, is needed. Results are available immediately, giving the user valuable insights into his or her current mental state. 

The Mentavi Diagnostic Evaluation is a more in-depth, 90-minute assessment reviewed by a licensed psychologist, which may lead to a formal diagnosis and treatment options, including therapy or medical treatment depending on the user’s location. 

These service offerings are part of Mentavi Health’s broader mission to provide accessible mental health care through telehealth platforms, making assessments and treatment available nationwide, with over 180,000 served to date. 

“As we’ve continued to listen to our patients’ needs and address the barriers to specialized treatment, we’ve recognized the growing demand for insight into complex mental health conditions,” said Keith Brophy, CEO of Mentavi Health. “This insight has driven us to steadily expand our offerings. The new tool, deeply grounded in established clinical frameworks, is targeted primarily for employers seeking to proactively support the mental health of their teams.” 

Mentavi Chief Medical Officer Barry K. Herman, M.D., M.M.M. commented, “The Mentavi Mental Wellness Snapshot is groundbreaking in that it puts a unique evidence-based, preventative screening tool in the hands of the user and provides an index into one’s current mental health that can be periodically assessed and monitored over time. The Snapshot is rigorously aligned to validated clinical screeners and incorporates a proprietary algorithm that generates an individual benchmark and risk assessment for the state of one’s mental wellness at any point in time. The Snapshot provides specific recommendations for next steps as warranted, including further monitoring, a more comprehensive diagnostic evaluation, and the need for immediate clinical intervention.” 

For more information about the Mentavi Mental Wellness Snapshot and other services, please visit the company website at https://mentavi.com or contact Corey Hart, Director of Service Development at chart@mentavi.com. 

About Mentavi Health and ADHD Online 
Established as ADHD Online in 2018, Mentavi Health has evolved to encompass a broader range of mental health services. With the mission to make quality ADHD assessments accessible to all, Mentavi has grown to address not only ADHD but also the most common related mental health conditions. The nationwide Mentavi Diagnostic Evaluation and various treatment options showcase the company’s commitment to providing comprehensive, accessible, compliant online mental health care.