Why do I feel so empty between Christmas and New Year?

Because the tension of December suddenly disappears. Your body runs on stress hormones for weeks, and as soon as they drop, you only then feel how tired you actually are. This can lead to a feeling of emptiness or gloom.

Is it normal for these days to feel so slow and strange?

Yes. They are ‘empty’ days without a fixed structure. It's not a real vacation, but also not a workweek, which makes time feel different and you may feel a bit aimless or restless.

Why am I more irritable during this period?

Fatigue, less daylight, and the drop in adrenaline play a significant role in this. Your brain and body are recovering, and that can manifest as irritability.

Should I already be thinking about New Year's resolutions these days?

No, that is not necessary at all. This period is actually meant as a mental break. Reflection is allowed, but you are not obligated to do anything and do not have to reinvent yourself yet.

What helps against that end-of-December slump?

Small things: a little structure, lowering your social expectations, and giving yourself permission to rest. By not forcing anything, you will get through these days the best.

Body & Mind

This is why you are SO miserable between Christmas and New Year's

By Laudonne Roos | #!31Sat, 27 Dec 2025 05:00:35 +0100+01:003531#31Sat, 27 Dec 2025 05:00:35 +0100+01:00-5Europe/Amsterdam3131Europe/Amsterdam202531 27am31am-31Sat, 27 Dec 2025 05:00:35 +0100+01:005Europe/Amsterdam3131Europe/Amsterdam2025312025Sat, 27 Dec 2025 05:00:35 +01000050012amSaturday=9#!31Sat, 27 Dec 2025 05:00:35 +0100+01:00Europe/Amsterdam12#12-27-2025#!31Sat, 27 Dec 2025 05:00:35 +0100+01:003531#/31Sat, 27 Dec 2025 05:00:35 +0100+01:00-5Europe/Amsterdam3131Europe/Amsterdam202531#!31Sat, 27 Dec 2025 05:00:35 +0100+01:00Europe/Amsterdam12#

Yes people, it's over again. We survived Sinterklaas and Christmas. The December period often feels like a marathon without a finish line. It starts with celebrating Sinterklaas, for which you have to buy gifts, fill shoes, make surprises, and become a pro-poet. That's already busy, and just when that's done, Christmas suddenly comes to shake things up. You have to interpret wish lists, plan five-course dinners, do groceries, cook for an army while you're already tired, and also take care of most Christmas gifts. All that stress builds up and up, and after December 26th, it suddenly becomes... quiet.

Christmas is over, but New Year's is not quite here yet. Those six days in between feel like a kind of fever dream where time runs differently. You might not have to work yet, or you work from home, but really relaxing doesn't work either. After all that December busyness, you might feel a bit irritable or, honestly? A little lost. What are you supposed to do with these days? And why do you actually feel this way? I have good news: you're not crazy, and no, it's not your fault. I'll explain that.

Woman with dark hair sits in bed, wrapped in a blanket with an uncomfortable look, symbolizing side effects.

Why this period feels so strange

You know the phenomenon that January seems to last for months? The same goes for those days between Christmas and New Year. These are somewhat ‘empty’ days where you don't really have anything planned, but you also can't do nothing. This is the moment when multiple mental processes collide at the same time. Throughout the entire month, you live towards something. Your schedule is full, and so is your mind. There is social pressure to do everything perfectly, emotional expectations lurk around the corner, and you constantly feel like you have to ‘hold on a little longer’ until Christmas is over. Once that happens, that tension suddenly disappears completely. And what happens when the tension falls away? Exactly: your body finally gets the space to feel how tired you actually are.

Psychologists explain that this is a classic example of a stress-release effect. You function for a while on adrenaline and cortisol; when these drop, you really feel the crash. So you will feel very tired, you become gloomy, and quite irritable. That explains why you don't immediately feel relieved that all the ‘fuss’ is over, but rather feel empty. Additionally, all that structure you have had all year is suddenly gone. Our brain loves predictability and these days lack that. It's not a ‘real’ holiday, but also not a work week. Time loses a bit of meaning. Monday feels like Sunday and Thursday like Tuesday. That can give a slight disorienting feeling, making you feel restless and aimless.

This ‘transition zone’ can feel uncomfortable. Christmas stands for completion: family, traditions, and reflecting on the year. New Year's is about looking forward to your future. Those days in between can therefore be confusing. That's why all those ‘next year I'm going to do it differently’ ideas feel a bit too big. And yes, it's true: the lack of light makes you feel not so good. Those short, bright days and long, dark evenings cause you to produce less serotonin. No wonder you'd rather curl up under a blanket than dive into the new year with fresh motivation.

What you can do against that end of December dip

First of all: stop thinking that you have to feel something. It's okay if you just want to watch some fun romcoms on the couch and not worry about your New Year's resolutions at all. This dip doesn't come because you're weak, but because you've just gone through an intense period. What can you do to get through these days as well as possible? I have some tips for you.

1. create a mini-structure
So it's not the intention that you plan these days full. Let the calm be there and don't stick to a strict schedule or productivity goals. Create small anchors in your day. For example, go for a fixed walk every day, eat the same breakfast every morning, or make sure you get outside at least once every afternoon. These small things ensure that your brain has a bit more grip.

2. lower your social expectations
You really don't have to see people every day or ‘make the most of your free days’. It's of course very nice to give your house an intense deep clean, but if you don't have the energy for that, you shouldn't do it. You should just take some rest and let yourself unwind. Watching Netflix with zero ambition? That's just doctor's advice now.

3. wait with the New Year's resolutions
I understand that you're eager to reinvent yourself, but it's better to wait a bit. You don't have to arrange a move and come up with a new workout routine on December 29th. That will all come in the new year. See these days as a mental break; you can reflect and make a vision board, but you're not obligated to anything.

So if you're feeling a bit miserable while the Christmas tree is still up and the new year is already at the door: you're not crazy. These days are just strange, and we might as well accept that.