Buy now, pay later
It might be the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s the most stressful too! Juggling so many responsibilities during the month of December can be a tough task, so it’s no wonder that recent studies have shown 40% of Americans experience higher stress levels during the holiday period. These extra worries can affect our mental health, our focus, and importantly, our sleep.
We wanted to explore the ways in which Christmas and holiday stress can affect your sleeping habits, so we’ve surveyed 1,500 American adults to find out what keeps them up at night in the festive season. Read on to find out how they responded!
Holiday debt was the most common source of stress
The #1 stressor for American adults was the fear of going into debt over the holidays. As living expenses rise, and gifts become more expensive, it can be tough for many of us to balance our finances.
28% of respondents said that they were worried about debt, and it topped our rankings of stressors across all gender demographics.
The second biggest fear was gift expectations, as a quarter of respondents worried about the struggle to give great presents over the holidays. 1 in 5 people also reported that they were stressed by family issues and crowded stores.
Women are more likely to worry about finances
The top two causes of holiday stress were much bigger areas of concern for women than for men. 1 in 3 female respondents to our survey were worried about debt over the festive period, while only 23% of men listed it as a fear.
While gift expectations were the second biggest fear among female respondents, this ranked third for males. 28% of women listed it as a stressor compared to 21% of men. The #9 concern reported among women was home decoration, which didn’t appear on the top 10 for men.
This points to women facing more financial and emotional worries than their male counterparts for the festive season. It can be tough to juggle so many responsibilities with how hectic December gets, and our data suggests women might feel pressured by social expectations to undertake more tasks in shorter time.
Men are more likely to worry about scheduling
The second biggest source of holiday worries for men was family dynamics, which women ranked at #5. More than 1 in 5 men feared tension between their family over the holidays, placing it just above gift expectations in their worries.
Men were also more likely to worry about time management in the lead-up to the holidays, with 18% of male respondents listing it as a stressor compared to 15% of females. Scheduling conflicts also appeared in men’s list of worries, affecting 12% of respondents, while it failed to break the top 10 for women.
Our data suggests men feel more pressed for time during the holiday period, and that they’re more likely to view family responsibilities in a different light to women. As work becomes busier during the holiday months, men may feel as though they’re overworked or committed to too many responsibilities, which they’re scared to let overwhelm them.
Trends suggest we’re becoming more isolated and pressured
Across both genders we surveyed, we noticed that some factors of stress can be linked to feelings of isolation during the holidays. Loneliness was a common cause of worry across the board, affecting nearly 20% of respondents, while crowded stores were also a major concern – affecting 1 in 5 of those who answered.
Another major cause of concern was wider societal pressures around the holiday season. Relationship stress, unrealistic expectations, and a lack of personal time were all among the top 10 most reported worries. This data suggests there’s increased pressure on people to deliver for their loved ones over the holidays, and that the fear of disappointment is common across all demographics.
How can we sleep better during the holidays?
As the holiday season gets busier and more stressful, you may find yourself struggling to get regular, healthy sleep. After all, poor mental health can lead to interruptions during the night, difficulty with sleep schedules, and increased tiredness. It’s important not to push yourself though, as sensible sleeping habits can have a positive impact on your health, both physically and psychologically.
We asked one of our Sleep Experts, Martin, for his advice on getting a better night’s sleep during the stressful holiday period. Here are some of his tips and tricks:
Don’t let tech distract you
“It can be tempting to check your phone while you’re trying to get to sleep, but the blue light emitted by many devices can trick your brain into feeling more awake. Stress from social media and other apps can cause extra stress too.
“For the best results, try to set a time ahead of going to sleep where you can switch off your technology and focus on preparing for bed. Many experts recommend an hour without screentime before finally drifting off to sleep. If you feel yourself struggling, ask a partner, friend, or family member to help you stick to your goals and teach yourself a new healthy habit.”
Stick to a manageable sleep schedule
“Many of us don’t have a set time for going to sleep and waking up, and it can affect our body’s circadian rhythm. If you’re not planning your sleep effectively and end up sleeping too late or waking up too early, the next day can feel like a slog.
“That’s why it’s best to set a time for going to sleep and waking up that’s easy to stick to every day. Once you’ve sorted out a sensible routine for your bedtime, you’ll likely start waking up feeling more refreshed and finding it easier to go to sleep at night. Try to allocate at least seven hours per night for your sleep.”
Talk to someone about your worries
“It can be hard to get to sleep when the holiday anxieties are piling up, and then your tiredness just adds to the worries. It’s always better to share your experiences with others though to help ease the burden of the Christmas panic.
“Make sure you have someone you trust who you can discuss any negative thoughts with rather than bottling them up every night before you sleep. Getting them off your chest will help clear your mind for a much more relaxing sleep and a less stressful holiday period!”
Conclusion
It’s completely natural to feel overwhelmed by the holiday rush, but there are lots of ways to stop your Winter worries running over your sleep schedule. If you need more advice to fix your sleep ahead of the big day, head over to our Snooze News page for all the tips and info you need for a better bedtime, including how to manage sleep anxiety.
Or maybe you’re looking for a holiday gift for someone special? We have a huge collection of mattresses, bedding and bed frames on offer, so you can give the gift of great sleep this year!
