Why You Lose Track Of Time At The End Of The Year

At the end of the year, life may feel extra chaotic. Given *gestures at everything* — e.g., COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus, the holiday season, finishing up tasks at work and more — you might feel extra close to (or far away from) your calendar. Perhaps you have to keep checking what day it is, or maybe you found yourself in a rush to buy presents because November and December slipped away from you.

In any case, why can the end of the year mess with even the most organized people? Here are a few explanations for why time feels like a black hole right now:

First, all the tasks you have are enough to mix up your days and make life feel hectic. Plus, our society’s “hustle culture” — and potentially your sense of FOMO — can exacerbate the pressure you feel to tick off a huge number of items on your to-do list.

“Because the U.S. culture tends to focus on productivity, outcomes and achievements, an individual can find themselves losing track of time — days, weeks, months and years — to try to achieve it all,” said Debra Kawahara, the associate dean of academic affairs at Alliant International University’s California School of Professional Psychology.

“This can become even more pronounced at the end of the year, when the person’s energy and attention are pulled in many different directions from work, home, family, friends, holidays and other activities.”

In addition to all that needs to be done, many people feel societal pressure at this time of year. Maybe both your mom and your spouse’s mom want to see you, the kids have holiday events, or your grandma is sick and you need to visit her. Even thinking about all of this can be exhausting, and you wouldn’t be alone in feeling that way.

“I have seen more clients come to me during the holiday and winter seasons due to increased stress,” said Caitlin Opland, a licensed clinical social worker with Thriveworks in Loveland, Colorado, who specializes in stress, anxiety and relationships. She’s heard about pressure related to meal preparation, gift-giving, family obligations, travel, work projects and more.

With all those expectations, you have less mental space to keep up with small details, such as the date. “All of this extra stress causes our brains and body to become overwhelmed and often not think as clearly,” said Jessica Cisneros, the chief clinical officer at the Family Houston nonprofit in Texas. “Tasks…