The top 25 Christmas stresses revealed
It's the most stressful time of the year - Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
What do you find most stressful about Christmas? A poll of 2,000 people has revealed the things that have us tearing our hair out over the festive period - and it's a pretty exhaustive list.
The survey looked in to what Christmas-celebrating adults most dread about the holidays, and along with some predictable stuff like having to spend time with the in-laws, or hosting people, it seems that buying meaningful gifts for loved ones was the most challenging aspect of the entire season for the majority of respondents.
Additionally, one in five adults struggled with pleasing everyone, and cooking dinner for the family, while 34 per cent were worried about the amount of money they would be spending. And all those Christmas treats were playing on the minds of 23 per cent of those polled, who said the fear of putting on weight after too much indulging was their biggest concern.
The study also found that one in 10 people felt organising Christmas was more stressful than moving house – while 21 per cent thought sorting out finances was easier than sorting crimbo! Yet despite all the hassle, just under a fifth admitted they will secretly enjoy all the chaos of the Christmas build-up, with one in 10 having started their festive prep in the summer!
And in the main we seem to thrive on all the stress and hard work, with two thirds (66 per cent) saying that festive stress was worth it in the end, and 44 per cent claiming Christmas day was the happiest day of the year.
Simon Thompson, managing director of Warner Leisure Hotels, who commissioned the research, said: “Christmas is a magical time, but a lot of festive admin is required to bring it to life. We absolutely understand the pressures and find we get a lot of last-minute bookings for our festive and January breaks because people are so keen to unwind - before and after. We hope people remember to take some time for themselves at some point during the festivities.”
And despite all the planning, the survey also found most of us will forget an average of two key Christmas elements – with some us forgetting as many as 10.
Most Read
- 1 Harpenden neighbours condemn plans for builders merchant next to residential properties
- 2 Woman found in canal near M25 in Hertfordshire
- 3 Revealed: Most popular Deliveroo takeaway dishes in St Albans
- 4 Train timetable shakeup due in St Albans and Watford from May 15
- 5 Cash stolen from parked car on Harpenden Road in St Albans
- 6 Police ‘concerned’ as 25-year-old goes missing from Stevenage
- 7 Medals, fast times and great performances for St Albans swimmers at championships
- 8 Nearly 100 motorway cameras upgraded to catch drivers who flout red X rules
- 9 David Carrick appears at Westminster Magistrates' charged with three rapes
- 10 FULL RESULTS: Lib Dem landslide in St Albans council elections
For more than one in 10 (13 per cent) of us it will be failing to source extra chairs so everyone can sit own, while one in five of us won’t remember to buy wrapping paper.
And posting our Christmas cards in time will slip the minds of 28 per cent of us, meaning a rush to hand-deliver them instead.
Simon Thompson added: “It’s all worthwhile in the end. We suspect many people wouldn’t have it any other way – and being able to relax at the end of the day with a glass of sherry, knowing all the work is done, is a wonderful feeling.”
Isn't it just!
THE TOP 25 BIGGEST STRESSES AT CHRISTMAS IN FULL
- Buying presents
- The amount of money that is spent overall
- Pleasing everyone
- Doing the big food shop
- Having enough money to last you through December
- Wrapping presents
- Putting on weight
- Running out of time to do everything
- Cooking the dinner in general
- Saving enough money throughout the year to afford it all
- Getting timings of the Christmas dinner right
- Visiting family
- Hosting Christmas Day
- Juggling Christmas preparations with work
- Shops running out of food and drink
- Untangling the Christmas lights
- Putting up decorations
- Where to have Christmas dinner
- Keeping presents hidden from loved ones
- Making sure there is enough food for everyone
- Having to attend lots of social events
- Spending time with the in-laws
- The lack of exercise you do
- Remembering to send cards to loved ones
- Finding a place to hide presents