Many Canadians are fighting burnout after a stressful year, but the holidays can be a perfect time to relax and step back from everyday life.

Digital burnout — a sense of fatigue, exhaustion and apathy stemming from excessive time focused on screens or devices — is a growing issue among many employees who spend their days on a computer.

About 62 per cent of users reported experiencing digital burnout either occasionally or regularly, with 31 per cent rarely or never unplugging, according to

a recent survey by Shift Technologies Inc. The World Health Organization recognized digital burnout as an “

occupational phenomenon ” in 2019. Burnout is especially an issue among younger generations, with 34 per cent of gen-Zers regularly feeling burnt out, while 31 per cent of boomers say they never feel burnt out.

The tech sector is also particularly vulnerable, with 37 per cent of workers in tech-related jobs reporting burnout.

On top of the concern for an employee’s well-being, there’s also a business concern when it comes to burnout.

In March, 40 per cent of businesses said burnout was to blame for a decrease in productivity, according to Robert Half Canada Inc., and it’s also blamed for missed deadlines by 34 per cent of employers and lost revenue by 24 per cent.

“In addition to being an increasingly worrying issue for professionals, burnout is a major challenge for employers as well,” Koula Vasilopoulos, senior managing director at Robert Half Canada,

said in a news release. “When employees are burned out due to heavy workloads and understaffed teams, businesses risk decreased productivity and morale, losing valued team members, and revenue loss due to falling behind on key timelines for critical projects.”

The mental health website DeconstructingStigma suggests pushing back against digital burnout by taking some time before responding to a message, leaving your work behind once the day is done, meeting more people face to face and culling digital accounts.

The holidays, therefore, can be a perfect time to step away and reset.

A very happy holiday from Posthaste. We’ll return on Jan. 5.

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Copper hit a new record of more than US$12,000 a tonne as mine outages and tariffs drive prices for the metal up.

Copper rose to US$12,159.50 per tonne on the London Metal Exchange on Tuesday. The metal has climbed more than 33 per cent this year.

Investors have been betting that copper’s vast usage will climb further to meet the needs of artificial intelligence adoption.

Meanwhile, disruptions at mines across the global are throttling supply.

  • Ottawa is expected to release its fiscal monitor for October
  • Today’s Data: U.S. durable goods orders for November
  • Today’s earnings: JBS NV
  • Legendary Canadian investment banker hopes to squeeze a good-deed tax deal out of Mark Carney’s Liberals
  • Canada’s economy shrinks by 0.3% amid manufacturing decline, labour strikes
  • Santa Carney delivered some tax gifts this year, but not enough to erase years of Liberal lumps of coal
  • Garry Marr: For Canadians who own real estate in the U.S., decision to sell comes at a cost

Read more.  Do you know which of your financial habits deserve coal, and which earn the nod of approval? With a fresh year ahead, now is the perfect time for a frank money audit, Santa style. How many of these naughty habits are you guilty of? Credit counsellor Mary Castillo

has some tips to help you decide how best to adjust them and start 2026 that much smarter.

Interested in energy? The subscriber-only FP West: Energy Insider newsletter brings you exclusive reporting and in-depth analysis on  one of the country’s most important sectors.

Are you worried about having enough for retirement? Do you need to adjust your portfolio? Are you starting out or making a change and wondering how to build wealth? Are you trying to make ends meet? Drop us a line at wealth@postmedia.com with your contact info and the gist of your problem and we’ll find some experts to help you out while writing a Family Finance story about it (we’ll keep your name out of it, of course).

McLister on mortgages

Sign up here. Want to learn more about mortgages? Mortgage strategist Robert McLister’s

Financial Post column can help navigate the complex sector, from the latest trends to financing opportunities you won’t want to miss. Plus check his

Financial Post on YouTube

mortgage rate page for Canada’s lowest national mortgage rates, updated daily. Visit the Financial Post’s YouTube channel for interviews with Canada’s leading experts in business, economics, housing, the energy sector and more.

Today’s Posthaste was written by Ben Cousins with additional reporting from Financial Post staff, The Canadian Press and Bloomberg.

Have a story idea, pitch, embargoed report, or a suggestion for this newsletter? Email us at 

  • Feel like the cost of living is at its worst? You’re not alone
  • Parents face ‘uncomfortable’ balance between expenses, Christmas gifts

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