The holiday season is full of snow flakes, Christmas lights, and cheer, but that’s not the case for everyone. Christmas according to social expectations should be something you look forward to, but sometimes it’s a day that you dread coming. The fun and festivities require a lot of planning, shopping and stress. Depending on your age, job, and overall lifestyle, it might be more stressful than exciting. People with jobs at the mall or Garden City Center might feel more pressure since they have obligations for decorating and setting certain things up. People’s moods differ depending on their lives.
Kids look forward to Christmas day. They get to get up early and find the Christmas tree overflowing with wrapped boxes and toys underneath. That factor is seen when 12 year old Joshua Black, who is using an Alias for privacy, was interviewed. “I feel excited to see my family and open up my gifts. Christmas is exciting because I get gifts from the list I make and see all of my family. I also get Christmas parties at school before break.” says Josh. His holiday season is full of anticipation for not only receiving presents but quality time with those he doesn’t get to see often. Even though he is a child, he does have tasks to do that take up time, “I do chores for my mom to make money so I can buy gifts for everyone. I like to see how happy they are when they get them.” explains Josh. Just like others he has responsibilities too but he doesn’t see Christmas time as a duty but a fun time with others whether that is because of his young lifestyle or his perspective of the time.
Wife and mother of 3, D.V., who would like to use her initials to remain anonymous, has one of the most time consuming jobs a person can have, being a parent. “I feel stressed during the season but not on the day of Christmas. It feels like a burden, but on Christmas day it is fun,” D.V. states. A parent has so many tasks and plans to do before the day comes with little time to do so. “I have to plan, keep traditions, shop and cook and it feels like it starts earlier and earlier every year and I’m getting too old to keep up.” says D.V. She is a mother who hosts Christmas every year to her family of 20 people. It takes time to plan everything out and keep everyone happy which is a big stressor. She clarifies later in the interview that all of the stress that comes with the holiday is worth it to see her family together with happy faces. If she had no stress or kids to be with it would be lonely.
49% of Adults’ stress levels are higher during this time of the year, causing them to be more focused on preparations then enjoying Christmas time and being with their loved ones. 36% state that it is more like a competition and not a joyful time of year according to the American Psychological Association (APA). The main causes are from the worry of spending so much money that they might not have, finding the right gifts, pressure to make the day special, and missing loved ones. Although it is stressful, 4 out of 5 adults describe it as joyful, exciting and fun.
The holiday season doesn’t only affect people with families, but also people who have obligations of decorating and customer service in a workplace setting. “Christmas is stressful because there’s more preparation to do. I have to provide a more intimate experience, decorate the store, have more patience and it is a more fast paced environment.” says a paper store employee, Emily Ventura who explains her tasks at her job. I’m sure you’ve gone to stores such as the Dollar Tree or Target and they already have Christmas items out before Halloween has even come. People in the retail business have to start their duties earlier than we might decorate our house. “I am prepared earlier than most others and the holidays are longer for me” Emily explains. Our typical Christmas season lasts from November to January, but for others like Emily, they could last at least an extra month. Although she says her career causes stress, she does oppose it with some positives, “I’d be less stressed if I didn’t work in customer service. I would say Christmas causes me 70% stress and 30% excitement since I enjoy my job.”.
Whether its excitement, nostalgia, blissfulness, stress, or anxiety, the holiday season affects everyone. No matter the lifestyle, the feelings one gets aren’t always the same. This time of the year seems to cause more people stress or pressure when it comes to the preparations and expectations. For most people, the closer it gets to Christmas day the more stressed and rushed they feel to get everything done. They are on a deadline of hanging lights, decorating stores, wrapping gifts, and baking cookies. 41% of people say their stress levels increased during November and December.
The holidays cause built up stress, pressure, and worry but it can also make you feel happy and cheerful. Whether you’re a parent or a kid, employed or not, rich or poor, everyone’s feelings are different depending on their lives. Even though more than half of the people I and APA have interviewed said Christmas is full of stress rather than excitement, the common factor was that the holiday preparations are worth all of the pressure to see everyone together with smiles on their faces the day of Christmas.
