Happier At Work: Leadership, Culture, Performance 287: End of Year Exhaustion and Time for Reflection
Are you running on fumes as the year comes to a close?
In this solo episode of the Happier at Work podcast, Aoife O'Brien gets real about end-of-year exhaustion, sharing her personal experiences and lessons learned after a hectic, relentless year without a truly restorative break. Drawing from her own journey juggling business demands and book writing, plus research for her upcoming book, Aoife O'Brien explores why so many of us struggle to press pause, and how cultural norms, productivity mindsets, and always-on tech contribute to burnout. She offers practical psychological insights and actionable advice for prioritising rest, recovery, and self-support so we can finish strong and start the new year feeling truly refreshed.
In This Episode, You’ll Discover:
- The causes of end-of-year fatigue: Many people feel depleted as the year wraps up, often because they haven’t scheduled proper restorative breaks.
- The pressure to stay busy: Social norms, the "Protestant work ethic," and hustle culture make it hard for us to take time off without guilt.
- The importance of scheduling breaks first: Prioritising holiday time and support for your business ensures you can fully detach and recharge.
- How to recognise when your body and mind are telling you to slow down, then take action before burnout hits.
Related Topics Covered:
Managing Workload, Workplace Wellbeing, Entrepreneurial Challenges
Connect with Aoife O’Brien | Host of Happier at Work®:
Related Episodes You’ll Love:
122: Cultivating a Mindset for Success with Brennan Jacoby
249: Embracing Failure & A Growth Mindset with Kelly MacDonald
241: Exploring The Phases of Burnout with Aoife O’Brien
About Happier at Work®
Happier at Work® is the podcast for business leaders who want to create meaningful, human-centric workplaces. Hosted by Aoife O’Brien, the show explores leadership, career clarity, imposter syndrome, workplace culture, and employee engagement — helping you and your team thrive.
If you enjoy podcasts like WorkLife with Adam Grant, The Happiness Lab, or Squiggly Careers, you’ll love Happier at Work®.
Website: https://happieratwork.ie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HappierAtWorkHQ
Mentioned in this episode:
Thriving Talent book - out now