Evidence-Based Wellbeing Series: Christmas Connection

Navigating the Holiday Hustle:

A Wellbeing Guide for Team Leaders?

A survey of 15,000 employees across the UK, Europe and US found half of the workforce reported experiencing “festive fizzle-out”, a significant fall in productivity and attention to work matters,  by 18th December. The reasons given by the survey participants for this festive fatigue included: burnout, end of year exhaustion, stressing over holidays plans, and post-Christmas office party hangovers. Banked’s Christmas Spending Survey 2023 found that 48% of Kiwis are either a little or very stressed about the cost of this year’s Christmas. That number increases to 55% for Gen Z, while Baby Boomers are the least anxious generation with 40% reporting some level of stress.

According to social media and festive movies, Christmas is meant to be a time of merriment, community, and celebration, but December also ushers in additional pressures. A 2019 survey from YouGov found that 26% of people say that Christmas makes their mental health worse, whilst the Mental Health Foundation estimates that 54% of people get worried about the mental health of someone they know at Christmas.

Causes of Christmas Stress

Christmas Deadlines

Christmas is a shorter working month, so there is an extra added pressure to finish up everything at work before the end of the year. According to a survey conducted by the workplace consultancy firm, Peldon Rose, 49% of workers reported an increased workload to complete before Christmas Day to be the main reason behind their festive anxiety.

"49% of workers reported an increased workload to complete before Christmas Day to be the main reason behind their festive anxiety"

eXPENsIVE GIFTS

Christmas is undoubtedly the most expensive time of the year. The average New Zealander spends approximately $1467 on Christmas gifts each year! Whether it be the pressure of presents all round, buying the right sized turkey and all the trimmings for the family Christmas dinner, or attending all the required social gatherings that take place around this time, it all costs. As a result, Christmas drives people into debt and financial stress: In 2021, 36% of Americans incurred Christmas debts, owing on average $1,249 on credit cards. 25% of Britons also report feelings of ‘gift guilt’ at Christmas – the worry that comes with not being able to afford to buy your children or loved ones the presents that they really want.

To be continued...