The weeks leading up to Christmas can be a whirlwind of shopping, baking, wrapping and rushing to events, but things don’t exactly calm down come Christmas morning. After all the presents are unwrapped the kids tend to get overstimulated just as the holiday feast has to be prepared and guests start arriving, which can all send stress levels soaring.
According to a new survey, Christmas Day stress reaches its max fairly early in the day, peaking at exactly 12:27 p.m.
- Part of that comes from feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to make the celebration perfect for everyone else (67%).
- And as much as we’d love the holiday to be about connecting with loved ones, there’s so much going on that just doesn’t happen for a lot of folks.
- More than half (53%) of respondents say they’re longing for rest and relaxation this Christmas Day, but many admit they don’t really get it, including 21% who say they only get half an hour or less of genuine peace and quiet all day.
- To carve out a little downtime, 35% admit they find an excuse to drive somewhere to escape the festive chaos.
- More than half (54%) say they get a rare quiet moment when they’re behind the wheel, using the time in the car to listen to the radio or a podcast (35%), look at the scenery (22%) or just reset and focus (15%).
- With all the hosting and entertaining people do on Christmas Day, they don’t get around to putting their feet up until 5:41 p.m. that evening.
The Top 10 Christmas Day Stresses
- Juggling the timing of Christmas lunch
- Around 11 a.m. when the kitchen starts to feel like a pressure cooker
- The mess left after presents are opened
- When the oven is full and you still need to cook three sides
- Trying to plate everything while keeping it hot
- When the kids are overstimulated and start crying
- Realizing the turkey isn’t cooking fast enough
- Mid-morning when someone asks, “What time are we eating?” for the third time
- The moment you realize you’ve barely sat down all day
- Hearing “All I Want For Christmas Is You” for the 11th time
Source: Talking Points