Explainers

‘Tis the season to be stressful: What is holiday stress and what causes it?

Does December overwhelm you? You are not alone. Mental health experts have noted that holiday stress is on the rise with most complaining that handling finances and gift-giving are the primary reasons for feeling overwhelmed and pressured

FP Explainers December 19, 2023 19:00:14 IST

A rising number of Americans have complained of holiday stress. They say gift giving and the idea of spending too much or not having too much money is the main reason for holiday stress. Image used for representational purposes/Pixabay

The holiday season is here; Christmas and New Year are around the corner and the excitement is palpable. But if you listen carefully you’ll hear more than just the sounds of Silent Night playing in the background. Those sounds are of people – parents, employees, shoppers and just the common man – who are overwhelmed and stressed out.

What are we talking about? We are talking about holiday stress and if a survey the American Psychological Association (APA) is to be believed, holiday stress is real and prevalent. In fact, nearly nine in 10 Americans say they feel holiday stress, with 41 per cent of respondents adding that their stress increases during the holiday season.

Arthur C Evans Jr, PhD, and APA’s chief executive officer, “The holiday season can be both a happy and stressful time of year in part due to expectations to spend time with family and friends, navigate family conflicts and uphold important traditions.”

We explore the topic of holiday stress deeper and provide ways to cope with this phenomenon.

What is holiday stress?

As the word suggests holiday stress is that feeling when one feels under pressure or overwhelmed especially during the holidays, typically during the months of November and December – around the time of Christmas and New Year’s.

And holiday stress affects one and all – from the young to the elderly. However, it’s important to note here that holiday stress is not a recognised disease, but medical and mental health experts do note that it is a phenomenon that several patients complain of during this time of the year.

Also read: It’s Shopping Season: Why businesses use Christmas music to convince you to spend more

What causes holiday stress?

There are multiple factors that contribute to a person having holiday stress. According to the survey by the American Psychological Association, the number one reason for holiday stress is the financial aspect of it all – spending too much or not having enough to spend. Think about it, most holidays include travelling, gift-giving, making lavish dinners, and decking out the house. These expenses can put a damper on your wallet and cause you to experience financial stress.

Gift-giving is another factor that contributes to holiday stress. The survey showed that 40 per cent of respondents found gift-giving to be stressful. The pressure to pick out the “perfect gift” can cause stress, too. Some say that the entire gift-giving process can lead to people being worried about disappointing their loved ones.

Doing too much and having too many commitments is another reason contributing to holiday stress. It also reminds us of family we are missing or friends we are away from. And we also know that spending time with family can be stressful. Hosting family and friends can be stressful in other ways: cleaning the house, cooking large meals and decorating the tree are all labour-intensive activities.

The survey also shows that one-quarter of Americans find discussing politics with their families stressful.

Travelling during the holiday season is another reason why people suffer from holiday stress. Imagine having to deal with the surge in crowds, and the risk of contracting some kind of disease during this time.

Mental health experts also note that there’s a lot of pressure during the holidays to make things perfect. To have the best decor, to cook the best meal, to be the host with the most. Ads, TV shows and movies, and social media create a picture of what a holiday “should” look like, and it’s easy to forget that trying to live up to such a standard means missing out on the real joy of the holidays: being with family and friends to celebrate.

How to cope with holiday stress?

But despite the prevalence of holiday stress, mental health experts note that there are some simple ways of avoiding or dealing with it.

First and foremost, decide what’s important to you and what’s not. Make a list and see what’s possible and what’s not and begin striking out events or activities based on their significance. Experts also believe that one should be mindful of what we are eating and drinking during the holidays, as it can contribute to our stress levels. To avoid emotional, stress eating, plan ahead by being aware of your triggers, do what you can to have some healthy food at hand for each meal, be aware of your intake, and practice mindful eating.

With family and friends, it’s important to be aware of your limitations. Think back to previous years and try to pinpoint how much togetherness you and your family can take before feeling negative stress. Can you limit the number of parties you attend or throw or the time you spend at each? Can you limit your time with family to a smaller timeframe that will still feel special and joyous, without draining you?

As Thriveworks.com note, remember the ‘reason for the season’. When you feel overwhelmed or stressed during the holidays, take a pause and remember your reason for the season.

Doctors have also noted that if you’ve tried the tips above and you still feel stressed then, one should consider speaking with a mental health professional.

As the saying goes – ‘Tis the season to be jolly. So be merry and don’t sweat the smaller things in life.

With inputs from agencies