Better Ways to Manage Your Holiday Stress |
Have you ever been stressed about being stressed? Well, that's the gift I give myself every December. In an effort to create the perfect holiday memories for my family, I fall into the same trap: I plan multiple projects and then stress about all of them (as well as the fact that I’m stressed). What if I’m the one ruining the season for my family?
It turns out, I’m not alone. A national report from C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital found that, in 2021, as many as one in six parents reported elevated levels of stress during the holidays, with mothers reporting nearly twice the rate of fathers (Clark et al., 2021).
Neuroscientists studying how seasonal demands affect our brains help us understand this intensity. The prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for organizing and executing tasks, goes into “overdrive” as responsibilities increase. Prolonged stress can even reduce memory and slow new brain cell production (Edwards, 2016), making post-holiday rest and balance an essential priority. However, lingering stress from financial pressures might disrupt this recovery.
Financial pressures rise sharply during the holidays. The C.S. Mott report found that nearly one in three families reports that money worries heighten their seasonal stress. This isn’t surprising given expectations around gift exchanges, increased travel, extra childcare during school breaks, and higher food costs for gatherings. These pressures are so ingrained in American culture that “Black Friday” is practically a national holiday and a business strategy.
Does all this holiday hype really make us happier? Despite heightened stress, a majority of people still report experiencing joy during the holidays (Clark et al., 2021; Kasser & Sheldon, 2002). How can that be?
One study suggests that rituals and........