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Original poster

Is anyone else all peopled out?

27 replies

BlowDryRat · 29/12/2023 21:22

We had MIL to stay for a few nights from Christmas Eve. Hosted 10 people for Christmas Day. Visited/gone out with various family and friends every day since then. We have a 200-mile round trip tomorrow to visit a much-loved elderly relative and I just don't want to. I'm all peopled out. We will go of course but I just want to stay at home with DH and the DC and not do anything at all. Not host, not visit, not organise.

Anyone else feel this way after a busy Christmas?

OP posts:
PTSDBarbiegirl · 29/12/2023 21:32

Yes but I've only seen my DP since Boxing day and plan to do nothing outside the home involving other people and I love it. I find Christmas quite traumatic really just the pressure. Enjoy your peace!

PinkflowersWhiteBerries · 29/12/2023 21:34

Another who has kept things quiet since Boxing Day. I have never understood the need to flock together with the same people eating the same foods for days on end, But I am a Grinch. Maybe make tomorrows the last trip
of this holiday and get some down time ?

thecatsthecats · 29/12/2023 21:41

I skived a get together for this reason yesterday.

Wasn't allowed to not attend the family get together this afternoon (same set of in laws as ten days ago) even though it was scheduled right during my ten week old baby's naptime/tricky hours. So we went up for his nap in the dark and I was alone for four hours with him. Still better than attending the party.

(And am solidly refusing to attend any further invites that are hideously scheduled for a baby.)

FusionChefGeoff · 29/12/2023 21:51

I usually do but I was open and honest throughout festivities and took 'people breaks' regularly! Not long, just 15 mins with cup of tea in my room was enough to recharge and keep me 'peopling' for much longer.

Highly recommend

Original poster
BlowDryRat · 29/12/2023 22:21

My DC were EBF and escaping people on the pretext that the baby needed a feed was wonderful. Thoroughly recommended.

Tomorrow's trip will be the last one until NYD. Then I will be having dinner with my parents and leaving the DC with them for 2 nights so I can do absolutely nothing. Can't wait!

OP posts:
Taytocrisps · 29/12/2023 22:50

Getting that way. I'm meeting two friends for coffee tomorrow and I've to drop DD to meet her boyfriend in the afternoon. I plan to put my feet up and chill for the rest of the day. Same with Sunday. I don't care if it's NYE.

ilovebagpuss · 29/12/2023 22:55

Yes. I have realised i get very anxious at Christmas and although everyone is nice the pressure and tiredness builds up.
I haven't slept well as had 3 nights in the spare room on crap sofa bed (hosted in laws) then was too overtired to sleep well.
Had a couple of days to ourselves then cooking for my DF tomorrow as he was with other family on Christmas day and I wanted to have him over.
Then going out on NYE which we don't usually do away from home, but I am trying not to be so boring as I know the teens will enjoy it and it's with good friends.
It's a hard time of year when you are not a naturally sociable person. I feel genuinely stressed at just having a nice time I hate feeling this way about nice events.

doggiedoodah · 29/12/2023 22:58

I have a job where interaction with people is full on every shift.
I had a very noisy but fun Christmas Day cooking and entertaining for 12
Boxing Day repeat and then work 27th/ 28th …today I have been completely exhausted! Husband went to boat ,son decided to stay here this evening.
We have a great relationship and agreed we would just sit in comfortable silence watching the rugby…absolutely bloody marvellous with me sipping a very long Gand T 😊

LemonLimeDivine · 29/12/2023 22:59

Yep. After a busy Christmas surrounded by extended family, I’ve promised myself that next year I’m not hosting AT ALL.
Usually today would have been a quiet day WFH but with the children off from
school and nursery and husband on annual leave, that hasn’t happened.

LoveFridayNights · 29/12/2023 23:20

I am so peopled out.

My lovely mum whom I'm very close to has been here since the 22nd and I can feel myself getting grumpy purely because I want to be left alone and not have to chat every time I step outside of my bedroom. Add in another family event this week, friend meet ups today and tomorrow and family arriving to stay for new year and I just want to scream.

I really can't cope with extra people events and guests for this long!

blackheartsgirl · 29/12/2023 23:34

This month has been one long people event for me, my dm passed last month and I’ve had people here from different countries staying and then Christmas to cope with

dd2 and dd3 have had sleepover here with friends as well and I can feel myself getting really angry and tired and close to flipping.

took myself off today, alone, for 2 lovely walks (both girls are teens before anyone questions it) and it was bliss although I did get irrationally annoyed with people who just seemed to start walking the same time as I did and trailing me 😂. I just hate people at the moment!

SallyWD · 29/12/2023 23:42

MY MIL and two SILS are staying for a week and yes I'm tired of people! We get on well and we're having a lovely time (genuinely) but I'm an introvert and am craving some personal space. Also tired of all the overeating, day trips etc to keep them amused

Spaghettieis · 29/12/2023 23:46

Yes! DH just gently chucked out some of his friends who had been here since lunchtime (!!) and we are seeing more people tomorrow. Yesterday was the first time in a week we didn't see anyone but we still had to go out to the shops etc and be in the public. Looking forward to our planned quiet NYE in!

KindleGirlie · 29/12/2023 23:51

Absolutely. I took myself to bed this afternoon and told no one to disturb me. I had a big nap and saw no one, it was bliss. Back to reality tomorrow

Whenwasthis · 29/12/2023 23:52

Had a pretty quiet Christmas, had two lots of in law visitors snd one out to visit. Each done and dusted within about 3 hours . Had years we've had people all day and into the evening and it was hard work and draining. I think we're getting the balance about right now.

mrsfollowill · 30/12/2023 00:06

I'm a very sociable extrovert person normally and even I'm feeling it this year!
I have a quiet hour before I go to bed every night- normally on here.
DH and DS go to bed early-ish (DS is young adult 10.30, DH 11.15 and they are up at 6.30am for work)
We are all off work so I've been up til 2 am to get my quiet hour 😫- it's fine we all do our own thing but we have had visitors 5 days out of 7 as well (not staying over thank God)
We have 2 more social things planned -I'm really looking forward to both as we are seeing very dear family/friends but then I'm happy to be done and have a really quiet January.

thecatsthecats · 30/12/2023 09:44

BlowDryRat · 29/12/2023 22:21

My DC were EBF and escaping people on the pretext that the baby needed a feed was wonderful. Thoroughly recommended.

Tomorrow's trip will be the last one until NYD. Then I will be having dinner with my parents and leaving the DC with them for 2 nights so I can do absolutely nothing. Can't wait!

I don't think my in laws were impressed when my son woke up and we pretty much immediately scooped him up and went home, but given that they set up the event as a "Christmas Day for DGS" after we went to my parents, then didn't check what time would work for us, I don't really care.

(In case I seem like "that" sort of DIL, we've seen the ILs every week minimum since he was born, and they like a big family get together, big lights on and lots of loud music etc. Whenever they ask what suits us and we tell them, they don't bother to accommodate it. My son is super stressed out by that, and was very happy in my parents very low key house, where my dad was happily running around fetching me muslins I dropped etc. Next year when he's a hyper toddler, he'll have a whale of a time at theirs, I'm sure.)

Mirrorballsocial · 30/12/2023 09:47

I don't want to be a dick. But I'd love to be peopled out. I have had Christmas day with my family then another family get together this week.

My family don't really make much effort at Christmas. (I love it) and I don't really have proper friends where I live.

So I know it's a lot, I appreciate this, but also try to enjoy when you can.

StarlightLady · 30/12/2023 10:02

During lockdown, police had the power to knock on your door and ask people visiting to leave. I understand this service may still be available. 😀

Fatnangry · 30/12/2023 10:58

It's interesting isn't it? I feel like Xmas is divided into people feeling lonely and people utterly overwhelmed with socialising.

I dont know how you say no to family dos and visitors. It feels so rude to say 'I don't want to see you'

My elderly parents are so lucky to have a million friends and relations visiting them but they are half dead from socialising. I'm feeling protective of them and want to put a sign on the door and phone to say 'please let them have a rest' !

DRS1970 · 30/12/2023 11:08

I realised I had become peopled out in 2018, so decluttered and have been nearly people free ever since...

mamaduckbone · 30/12/2023 11:52

I love spending time with my family at Christmas but definitely peopled out now...we backed out of a night out last night because we just couldn't be bothered, and had a night in front of the fire instead.☺️

blackfluffycat · 30/12/2023 11:58

Yes but I'm autistic. I avoid people all year.

marriednotdead · 30/12/2023 12:15

I'm an introvert who is home alone for the first time in a week and loving it!

Have had a great time with my lovely family but 3 days of various permutations of gatherings, 2 days back at work in a customer facing role and then a pantomime yesterday with the grandkids- I'm just in need of some quiet time.

Fatnangry · 31/12/2023 18:32

How do you say no to visitors/family dos/get togethers without being rude? I do love my family and friends but I cant cope with them through dec and Jan (we got endless birthdays in jan so it continues right through from mid dec)

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