New Year’s Eve is a bit like marmite – you either love it or hate it. It is hyped up as being the biggest celebration night of the year, but we often find that the reality just doesn’t live up to all that excitement. Some people say that NYE is disliked because of the unrealistic expectations, but psychologists think there might something deeper going on.
- Pressures from personal life and work
The approaching end of the year can bring added pressures that don’t exist at other times of the year. Work projects and deadlines might be looming, with end-of-year presenting a time of stressed working conditions for many. Personal problems can include financial burdens and managing more family relationships around the festive period. Make NYE an enjoyable night this year with Cheltenham Nightclubs like www.undertheprom.com/
- The fear of change
NYE is always associated with fresh starts and this can make some people feel anxious. There is a certain amount of pressure related to expected behaviour change and goal-setting that make people feel tenser and more worried than usual. Some of the usual suspects include giving up smoking, diet change, a career switch or losing weight.
- You are expected to be happy
NYE puts a lot of pressure on people to feel happy, have fun and enjoy the company of others. For those who don’t find this easy, the holiday season can exacerbate feelings of social isolation or bring to the forefront painful conflicts with family or friends. NYE can highlight feelings of loneliness, grief, anger and melancholy.
- You expect too much
It is often the case that the more you think something will be awesome and out of this world, you often find somewhat lacking and a little disappointing. If you are the one hosting the party, you might spend a disproportionate amount of time planning and prepping but feel let down when midnight strikes, and it all feels like a bit of an anti-climax. If you want to have a better, don’t expect too much and you might be pleasantly surprised.
The best ways to enjoy seeing in the New Year include keeping your expectations in check. It doesn’t mean you won’t have a great time, it just means you’ll have a more realistic approach to the night. When we set our expectations low, it’s easier to exceed them.
It’s also a good idea to not put so much pressure on yourself to reach all their goals by the end of the year. Nobody is perfect and you’re most likely expecting far too much of yourself. Relax, take some time out to collect yourself and breathe. The less stressed out you are, the more chance you have of enjoying the festive period.