Every December turns into an emotional vortex: garlands twinkle, the air is filled with the promise of a miracle, everyone around is happy and in love (or at least playing the game well). Against this backdrop, it’s easy to succumb to the feeling that one must enter the New Year as a couple, that winter is the wrong season for loneliness, and that a hasty romantic adventure will fix everything — "both all mistakes and all poems"...
But in December, everything can go completely differently than one dreams, so rushing into a relationship at the stroke of midnight is not the best idea. Psychologist Radmila Bakirova explained why one should not rush into relationships at this time.
December Emotions Create an Illusion of Closeness
The festive atmosphere amplifies any feeling: lights, music, the upcoming magical night — everything works as a powerful emotional amplifier. What seemed amusing and trivial in November appears fateful in December. "But such chemistry doesn’t last long: when January brings back the routine, a romance built on holiday euphoria often falls apart. And it’s also very important to remember: the feeling of suddenly arising chemistry may just be a response to the atmosphere, not to the person themselves," warns the expert.
Loneliness in Winter Is Normal
In December, it is especially easy to confuse a temporary emotional state with a real need for relationships. One craves warmth, hugs, shared plans — and the thought arises that a new person will fill all internal voids. But a partner cannot replace the support that is lacking within. Romances started this way burn out quickly. And if one survives this internal impulse, it often becomes clear that it was not about love, but about an attempt to drown out discomfort.
Expectations for a New Year Romance Are Always Overrated
For the New Year, one wants a fairy tale — and we often unconsciously assign the role of a savior or ideal to a new acquaintance. "The person hasn’t even had time to show themselves, yet the script is already written. Overrated expectations lead to disappointment: the real person does not match the imagined version. And relationships where a partner must conform to a fantasy rather than be themselves rarely last more than a couple of weeks," asserts the psychologist.
In December, People Are in Emotional Turbulence
The end of the year is a time for reports and summaries, stress, fatigue, and re-evaluations. Many feel anxiety, burnout, or pressure from all sides. In such a state, it is difficult to build something stable: emotions are unstable, decisions are impulsive, so what starts with a bang often ends just as swiftly and inevitably in January.
A Winter Romance Can Close Off Opportunities for a Real Meeting
When a person rushes into a relationship just to avoid being alone during the holidays, they often find themselves not in their own story. The place turns out to be occupied — not by the right person, not at the right time. Sometimes it’s better to wait than to rush into the wrong situation with the wrong people — the cleaner the internal space, the easier it is to welcome someone who truly fits, rather than someone who happened to be nearby.
