The holiday season is full of joy, gatherings, celebration, and warmth, but it's also often a time of great stress.
sleepopolis conducted a survey of more than 1,000 American adults to analyze their holiday health habits and discovered some interesting factors that play a role in why Americans often feel stressed during the holiday season.
Why do Americans feel so stressed during the holidays?
Harvard Medical School reported that “the brain's prefrontal cortex becomes overreactive” due to increased responsibilities around the holiday season.
The main findings of the survey revealed the following:
- 80% of Americans say expectations and events around the holidays increase stress, and nearly 28.2% say they sleep less before and after the holidays.
- Almost half of Americans report that financial concerns are the main cause of stress during the holidays. (In a 2021 study conducted by Sleepopolis, only 28% reported that their biggest stressor during the holidays was financial issues.)
- One in four Americans is “very interested” in participating in Dry January this year.
- More than 50% of Americans are planning a trip to visit friends and family this holiday season, and most would rather sleep in a hotel than stay as a guest at home.
In addition to this study, the 2012 publicationFamily tourism: an interdisciplinary perspective” reported that another important aspect of increased stress levels around the holidays was the pressure to have the “perfect vacation.”
“There is a lot of social pressure on parents to have a 'fun vacation' and they are bound by idealized notions of modern parenting.” Book Details are provided in Chapter 8, Introduction.
of introduction It goes on to say, “Idealizing family leisure time can have a negative impact on parents through increased guilt and stress, especially among mothers, as ideals of family togetherness are difficult to achieve.''
How can I overcome holiday stress?
Here are three tips to help you overcome holiday stress.
- Find ways to get in touch with other people.
- Maintain the healthy habits you already follow.
- Create a budget for your holiday expenses.
The Deseret News reported that the World Health Organization has established a new commission to address the “health threats” of isolation and loneliness.
of Journal of Psychological Nursing and Mental Health Services published an editorial discussing how social support can help reduce holiday stress.
of article “Humans crave and benefit from connection with others, yet loneliness is a major public health threat, with approximately 43 million people admitting to feeling chronically lonely. It is believed that there is.''
of University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics In a 2017 article, we talked about the importance of gathering with family and friends, as well as prioritizing time to maintain healthy habits like exercise and sleep, which can help keep stress down during the holidays. It is detailed.
“The truth is, people tend to abandon healthy habits during the winter months,” says Beth Frates, Ph.D., clinical assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School. . Said.
Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford is an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. Said“Everyone gets busy during the holidays, but often the first thing to tackle is a training plan. This is what you shouldn't do.”
health engine They reported that another thing you can do to avoid overspending during the holidays is to plan your budget early and stick to it.
If you're thinking that's easier said than done, here's a way to help stay motivated to stick to your budget this season: Use your platform on Instagram or TikTok to say, “That materialism is bad.” Follow a few “de-influencers”. And the trend of being too expensive is no longer in fashion.” CNN.
