The Reason You're Finishing 2025 Stressed, Anxious and Burnt Out

By Josh Holliday

Hey legend, it's Josh here.

And I'm going to call it how it is...

If you’re finishing 2025 feeling wired, tired, anxious, flat, or emotionally fried, despite “working on yourself”... it’s not because you’re broken.

It’s because you avoided the work that actually matters.

You didn't do that intentionally.

You did what you thought was best.

Because you were never shown a better way.

Now I want to call out some bullshit you might be telling yourself right now...

"It was a big year"
"It's normal to feel like this at the end of the year"
"I'll feel better after a bit of time off"

Here's the truth... if you make that your normal, that's what you'll get.

Instead of feeling calm, present, and grounded in yourself, you’ll stay stuck in survival mode.

Emotionally reactive, overstimulated, and constantly managing symptoms instead of addressing the cause.

And deep down, you know it.

The real question is this:

Do you want to go another full 12-month cycle only to end up at the end of next year feeling the same way?

The Pattern Nobody Wants to Admit

Most people don’t ignore personal growth completely.

They dabble.

They think about their problems.
They talk about their problems.
They consume content about their problems.

But they don’t fundamentally change how they operate internally.

You might recognise yourself here:

You talked to a therapist… but never changed your daily patterns.
You watched insightful videos… then scrolled straight past.
You listened to podcasts… but used them as background noise.
You medicated, numbed, distracted, suppressed, avoided.

Alcohol. Weed. Dopamine. Busyness. “Staying productive”.

All ways to avoid sitting with yourself.

And honestly, I’m not judging you...

I did a bit of that myself.

Most of us are doing the best we can with the tools we're given but avoidance doesn’t eliminate problems...

It stores them in your nervous system.

Why Quick Fixes Always Fail Long Term

Most mainstream solutions are designed to manage symptoms, not upgrade the operating system at the source.

They help you cope with anxiety, function in a society where high stress is "normal" and live alongside emotional chaos.

That might keep you surviving, but it will never give you real inner peace.

Because even though everyone wants to escape the symptoms of anxiety, the symptoms of anxiety are not the problem...

Anxiety is just feedback.

It’s your system telling you that:

You don’t feel safe internally
Your mind is running outdated software
Your nervous system is stuck in fight/flight mode
Your awareness is hijacked by thought and emotion

You already know this.

That’s why part of you resists the idea that someone else can “fix” you.

Deep down you know it's an inside job.

And I encourage you to trust that inner voice.

Why This Isn’t About Blame

Let me be clear about something important.

This isn’t about shaming yourself for not doing enough.

It’s about taking responsibility for what happens next.

You don't know what you didn’t know.

You were told:

“Talk it out”
“Take the edge off”
“Manage your stress”
“Just be more disciplined”

But nobody showed you how to:

Regulate your nervous system
Detach from overthinking
Build emotional capacity
Operate from presence instead of panic

So you keep pushing forward with the same internal setup... hoping the external world eventually feels better.

But it never does.

Because it can’t.

Nothing will change until you change.

The Truth Most People Avoid

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

If nothing changes internally, 2026 will feel exactly like 2025 (maybe worse).

More reactivity.
More pressure.
More expectations.
Less energy.
Less presence.

The 4am spirals won’t magically stop.

The emotional reactivity won’t dissolve on its own.

The background tension won’t just fade away.

You might get temporary relief with the weekend beers or the quartlery holiday but tip-toeing around your inner world won’t get you where you want to go long term.

At some point, you either commit… or you keep coping.

Now here's what makes my work different from what you've tried before.

I’m Not Your Daddy. I’m Your Coach.

I’m not here to rescue you.

I’m not here to validate every story you tell yourself.

I’m not here to do the work for you.

If you're looking for for someone to tell you what you want to hear (instead of what you need to hear), don't come to work with me.

I’m here to tell you the truth and give you a system that works if you work it.

That means:

You take responsibility for your shit
You commit to change
You stop looking for shortcuts
You show up consistently, even when it’s uncomfortable
You trust the process

You don't need to be perfect, but you do need to put in the work.

Because that’s what will actually change your life.

What You Actually Want (And You Know It)

You don’t want another year of “getting by.”

You want:

To feel calm regardless of circumstances
To respond instead of react
To have energy and inner peace
To enjoy your life instead of enduring it

You want:

Solid relationships
A clear mind and a regulated nervous system
A business that grows without burning you out
A sense that you’re finally aligned with yourself

That version of you doesn’t come from dabbling, it comes from upgrading how you operate.

Mind OS: Your 90-Day Mental Upgrade

That’s exactly why I am launching Mind OS in Q1 2026 and if this message has resonated, you need to be involved.

Over 90 days, we systematically:

Regulate your nervous system
Reprogram subconscious patterns
Reset your behavioural patterns

This is about helping you function from clarity instead of chaos.

So you can:

Wake up calm and grounded instead of spiralling
Handle stress and anxiousness without losing your shit
Process your unresolved regret, guilt and shame
Get in touch with yourself at a deeper level
Upgrade to a whole new identity
Actually enjoy your life in 2026

2026 Can Be Different, But Only If You Back Yourself

Here’s the part I won’t sugar-coat:

Nothing changes unless you DECIDE to back yourself.

If you’re done suppressing
If you’re done waking up anxious
If you’re done pretending you’re fine

Then this is your invitation.

Make 2026 the year you finally get your shit together, not through force, but through alignment.

Mind OS begins January 2026

A focused 3-month sprint to help you make next year the year you turn things around.

Early-bird spots for early movers to save $$$ before Christmas Eve via message only.

I'm not taking anymore calls this year but if you want to save your spot, here's what you can do:

1. Message me on instagram @itsjoshholliday and I'll send you the details.

2. Email me [email protected] and I'll email the details.

No pressure... Just a clear path forward, if you’re ready for it.

With Optimism,

Josh