As the year draws to a close, the country settles into a familiar rhythm. Offices hurry to finish targets, families begin to plan their holiday gatherings, traders push for end of year sales, and students count down to semester breaks. It is a beautiful season, but also a demanding one. December carries its own kind of pressure, and too many Nigerians enter the festive period exhausted rather than refreshed.
We have watched this pattern repeat itself year after year. Many people spend all of December running on empty, only to step into January feeling even more drained. The truth is simple. Burnout has been rising quietly across the nation, and most people do not recognise it until their bodies force them to stop.
Burnout is not mere tiredness. It is a depletion of energy, emotion and motivation. It is the point where the mind no longer cooperates, the body no longer responds the way it should, and the heart no longer finds joy in what once mattered. Health professionals see it in their clients daily. Teachers feel it. Bankers, nurses, engineers, small business owners, artisans and even students experience it. The problem has become a national reality.
Why burnout is rising in Nigeria
Our society runs on speed. People work long hours, commute through stressful traffic, juggle family responsibilities and still feel expected to maintain social obligations. Many never take true rest. Even weekends are filled with events, errands and responsibilities.
The end of the year magnifies all this. December comes with:
- increased workplace deadlines
- financial pressure
- travel stress
- heightened responsibilities at home
- emotional strain from the year’s unresolved challenges
Christmas should bring peace and renewal, but for many, it becomes another workload to manage. In this environment, burnout grows quietly until it becomes a heavy burden.
The symptoms most Nigerians overlook
Burnout rarely arrives loudly. It announces itself gently at first, through:
- constant tiredness
- irritability
- forgetfulness
- decreased concentration
- trouble sleeping
- loss of motivation
- emotional numbness
These signs are often dismissed with phrases like “I just need to rest small” or “body go balance”. But if ignored, burnout deepens. It affects immunity, digestion, sleep and overall productivity. Professionals begin to make mistakes. Students struggle to retain what they study. Business owners lose their creative edge. Health practitioners lose empathy and clarity.
In a country that values hard work, we sometimes forget that the body has limits.
The Christmas paradox
December is a season of celebration, yet it often exposes how depleted many people have become. Those who have pushed themselves throughout the year enter Christmas with very little energy left.
There is nothing wrong with celebration. There is nothing wrong with giving, sharing, hosting, cooking and planning. The problem arises when the entire season becomes another marathon. We forget that Christmas is also a season of reflection, gratitude and restoration.
Your body does not recognise public holidays. It only recognises signals of safety, rest and balance. If December becomes too hectic, the body enters the new year already struggling.
A more mindful approach to the season
This year, we encourage Nigerians to approach Christmas a little differently. Not with less joy, but with more intention.
A few practical shifts can change everything:
- Protect quiet time, even if it is just thirty minutes a day.
- Rest before the body demands it.
- Avoid overbooking your schedule.
- Sleep well. The body repairs itself at night.
- Set boundaries when necessary.
- Remember that you are not obligated to attend every event.
- Engage your mind in gentle activities that renew your spirit.
This is how Christmas becomes healing rather than exhausting.
The role of integrative health during burnout
At Cyrillic College, we study how the body, mind and emotions work together. Burnout sits at that intersection. It is not only a mental strain. It affects digestion, immunity, hormonal balance and energy production.
There is strong evidence that integrative approaches can help people recover more fully from burnout. These include:
- guided relaxation
- breathwork
- herbal support for stress recovery
- gentle body therapies
- nutritional adjustments
- structured sleep routines
These are not quick fixes. They are long term strategies that strengthen resilience. Practitioners who understand the physiology of stress are now among the most valuable health professionals in the country. Clients want more than motivation. They want strategies that actually work.
Why burnout education matters for practitioners
Many of our students at Cyrillic College already work in health and wellness fields. They see firsthand how tired, overwhelmed and emotionally strained many Nigerians have become. When practitioners are trained to recognise early burnout, they can intervene sooner, guide clients more effectively and prevent long term harm.
This is part of why we continue to strengthen our programs. Health care is evolving, and clients now look for professionals who understand both science and human experience. The rising tide of burnout requires clear thinking, modern skills and grounded teaching.
A message for the season
As we celebrate Christmas this year, I encourage everyone to pause. Reflect on what the year took from you. Acknowledge what it gave you. Give your body room to breathe. Give your mind space to settle. Joy is most meaningful when it grows from a rested heart.
Entering the new year with strength begins with how you treat yourself now.
On behalf of Cyrillic College, we wish you a season of peace, good health and renewed energy. May your December bring restoration, not depletion.