The end of the year has a funny way of turning everyone into a hibernating bear. Maybe it’s the sun setting at 4:59 p.m. and convincing your brain that bedtime starts immediately after work. Maybe it’s the looming performance review your boss keeps hinting at like a horror movie jump scare. Or maybe it’s the annual financial gut punch where you suddenly need to come up with an extra $500 for gifts because your cousin’s new boyfriend is apparently part of the family now.
And that’s before we even get to the emotional turmoil of seeing all your relatives in the same house at the same time. Nothing makes a person want a nap more than knowing they’ll soon be trapped in a living room trying to explain their life choices to an aunt who highly disapproves.