The end of the year is always a hectic time. For some reason, this year feels a little bit crazier than years past.

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For starters, Thanksgiving was late this year. The late Thanksgiving, coupled with the fact I neglected to do any real shopping early this year, meant I knew from the get-go I was destined for a busy month. In the just more than three weeks between the holidays, I — and most people, I expect — did all my holiday shopping, set about seeing family and friends visiting from afar, and everything else associated with the season.

The actual schedule surrounding Christmas made this year a little hectic as well. We had the company holiday party the Friday before Christmas, meaning there was only one work day between the party and the long holiday break. The time off has a weird way of making the end of the year feel long to me. This year, it felt like the time between Christmas and New Year’s lasted a few weeks, even though I got my normal amount of work done.

It’s because of all this I am excited for the holidays to be over. It will be nice to be able to take a few minutes to myself without planning what I am bringing to this party or that celebration. It will also means getting back in the groove with a regular work schedule. Honestly, the thing I am most excited for is a weekend without the need to go to some party or some other social obligation.

— Erich Martin, assistant editor