Moral fatigue, loss of momentum… This very widespread feeling at the moment is not a coincidence. It is based on precise psychological mechanisms, linked to our relationship with time, emotions and social ties.
It’s the same every year. The month of January seems long to us, much longer than the others. Slower too. Some people describe a drop in morale and a feeling of floating. In psychology, this discomfort is based on a chain of well-identified psychological mechanisms. Clearly, it does not come from nowhere. “There are psychological, emotional and social reasons for this feeling”explains Saverio Tomasella, psychologist. Above all, the same thing in common: a brutal breakup.
This rupture is “largely linked to the post-holiday phenomenon” continues our interlocutor. The whole month of December functions as an emotional surge. The mind is occupied with waiting, preparations and reunions. “There is a rise towards celebration, cheerfulness, conviviality and warmth.” Then, as soon as the new year rolls around, everything stops. “From January 2, it’s over”summarizes the psychologist. For the brain and nervous system, the shock is real. Psychologists speak of a “inevitable psychic collapse”a form of mini-mourning for these privileged moments that we only experience once a year. What made us hold on, hope, anticipate suddenly disappears. Time seems to drag on, for lack of positive future benchmarks.
Added to this emotional fall is a sharp decline in social relationships. After the relational intensity of the holidays, January marks a return to calm, sometimes brutal. Fewer visits, fewer exchanges, fewer shared moments. “We are missing a relationship”observes Saverio Tomasella. However, social ties play a central role in psychological balance. When it becomes scarce, the feeling of isolation increases. The brain perceives this withdrawal as a loss. Time then seems emptier, longer, more difficult to fill. The winter context further accentuates this phenomenon. “The cold arrives at the beginning of January, the days are short”underlines the specialist. This absence of natural light has a biologically depressogenic effect. For many, it causes a drop in the production of serotonin, the happiness hormone, and dopamine, linked to pleasure and energy. Paradoxically, “we produce more melatonin, the sleep hormone, so we feel tired”. This hormonal imbalance explains why morale declines, when it will be necessary “wait until mid-February to physically feel the increase in light”.
To get through this winter period more easily, the doctor of psychology recommends “Light your home well, first thing in the morning, so that the body has enough light to be in good shape.” We can also help ourselves with light therapy sessions. Taking care of yourself is also essential: “We need, in the depths of winter, to take particular care of ourselves.”
This involves simple pleasures: herbal teas, plaids, treats (chocolate, pancakes, pancakes, etc.), but also through an effort to reconnect with others. “We can say to ourselves that in January, we are going to party” suggests the expert. Plan an afternoon with friends or family, a walk in a place you particularly like or a trip to the seaside, why not? In short, you don’t have to wait for sunny days to go out and see your loved ones again.
