The Final Stretch: Managing Year-End Fatigue with Rest That Truly Restores

corliadpreez
11 hours ago
3 min read

As 2025 draws to a close, many of us find ourselves running on fumes. The to-do lists seem never-ending — reports to finish, finances to balance, school events, family commitments, holiday planning — all while trying to end the year on a strong note. Time has flown by, and whether we’ve achieved all we planned or not, there’s one thing most of us can agree on: we’re tired.

But before we push through the final stretch, it’s worth pausing to acknowledge that year-end fatigue is real. It’s not a sign of weakness or poor time management — it’s a natural response to a year’s worth of giving, doing, and juggling. The goal now isn’t just to rest, but to rest right.

The 7 Types of Rest We All Need

Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith describes seven types of rest that go beyond simply sleeping. Each replenishes a different area of our lives that may have been depleted throughout the year:

Physical Rest – This includes both passive rest (sleep, naps) and active rest (stretching, gentle movement, massages). Your body needs recovery from the constant go-go-go.
Mental Rest – Quiet the mental chatter. Take breaks from decision-making, overthinking, and multitasking. Even a few minutes of silence can help.
Sensory Rest – Our senses are constantly stimulated — screens, noise, bright lights. Step away, close your eyes, breathe, and reset.
Creative Rest – Give your imagination space to breathe. Take in beauty through art, nature, or music to restore inspiration.
Emotional Rest – Be honest about how you feel. Find safe spaces to express your emotions without needing to fix or justify them.
Social Rest – Balance your relationships. Spend time with people who replenish rather than drain you.
Spiritual Rest – Connect with something greater than yourself — faith, purpose, or meaning. Reflect on why you do what you do.

When we intentionally create space for these types of rest, fatigue doesn’t have to define our year’s end — renewal can.

The 6 Core Human Needs Driving Our Year

While rest restores us, it’s also important to understand why we push so hard. According to Tony Robbins, every human action is driven by six core needs:

Certainty – The need for comfort, safety, and predictability.
Variety – The need for change and excitement.
Significance – The need to feel important or valued.
Connection/Love – The need to feel close to others.
Growth – The need to develop and improve.
Contribution – The need to give beyond ourselves.

Often, our fatigue comes from trying to meet these needs in ways that are out of balance. Maybe we chased growth and contribution but neglected rest and connection. Or we clung to certainty all year, resisting change and draining our energy in the process.

A Gentle Reminder

As we prepare to wrap up 2025, let’s honor the effort we’ve given — whether it was a year of momentum or survival. The “final push” before December doesn’t have to mean burnout. It can mean finishing with awareness, compassion, and alignment.

Take a moment to check in with yourself: