How many times have you heard the classic end-of-year phrase: “We must catch up before Christmas!”? Journalist Vivienne Pearson argues that this pre-December 25th urgency is a social trap, adding unnecessary stress to an already hectic period. She points out that the deadline mentality sharpens the mind, but at the expense of sanity, given the myriad other obligations: present buying, lunch organising, holiday planning, and work deadlines, not to mention children’s concerts and parties.
Instead, Pearson sings the praises of January as a far superior month for socialising. The first month of the year, she writes, is “lazily filled with days full of summer holiday vibes,” offering a calm stretch with few deadlines and an air of relaxation. She dismisses the barrier between 31 December and 1 January as insignificant, asking: does it really matter if we catch up before 25 December instead of, say, 19 January?
Pearson recalls her own peak stress when her children were young, involved in seven concerts, three award ceremonies and four parties in a single December. The constant planning and financing made it impossible to enjoy any activity. She notes that it is often friends not seen for months who are most eager to squeeze in a meeting, creating a cycle of pressure that feels like “an out-of-control downhill cycle ride.”
For those still trapped in the pre-Christmas frenzy, Pearson offers a simple suggestion: don’t be afraid to respond to a catch-up request with the words, “January is a nice month too.” After all, she notes, “I’m sure we’ll survive not seeing each other for a couple more weeks, when the rush of December gives way to lazy days.”
