With the holidays well and truly in full swing, stress and anxiety levels are rising with family gatherings and increased spending on the horizon.
In fact, a new study by A Mission for Michael has revealed that a whopping 70% of Americans reported feeling stressed during the holiday period. But what can we do to alleviate the pressure?
Main Causes of Stress
According to the survey, which asked Americans what they feel contributed the most to their stress levels, financial pressure came out on top, with 64% feeling the strain. The National Retail Federation (NRF) anticipates an uptick in consumer spending this year, and estimates that shoppers will spend around $902 per person on average.
Family gatherings were also a main worry for the nation with over half of Americans finding social situations particularly stressful. This comes just weeks after the 2024 presidential election, putting a strain on family dynamics.
Other factors increasing anxiety levels include:
Expectation of a perfect holiday: 30% Travel: 25%Work Obligations: 25%
Gratitude and Why It’s Important
But how can we combat these rising stress levels? The study found that over three-quarters (84%) of Americans agreed that practicing gratitude has helped reduce their stress and anxiety during the holiday season.
Interestingly, the CDC reported that gratitude may be the best-kept secret to help reduce stress and feel better. They said that focusing on what you’re thankful for every day could improve your health and emotional well-being.
Examples of how the US is expressing gratitude include:
Expressing thanks verbally: 81%Writing thank-you notes or letters: 58%Practicing gratitude privately (personal reflection): 53%Meditation or mindfulness: 42%Journaling: 26%
A Mission for Michael’s Executive Director Christina Kayanan believes, “The levels of anxiety and stress during the holiday season are a clear reminder of how some Americans may be struggling. From financial pressure to entertaining family, there is a clear concern here for the nation’s mental health. Fortunately, it seems many of us are aware of the benefits of showing gratitude, not only for ourselves, but for others too.”
Kayanan continues, stating “We must prioritize mental health as a critical component of overall well-being and take proactive measures to mitigate the factors contributing to rising stress and anxiety.”
Coping Strategies During the Holidays
However, practicing gratitude isn’t the only strategy that Americans use to get through the holidays. The survey revealed that most Americans opted for healthy ways of coping, such as exercise or speaking with family.
Nearly half of the nation plans to turn to physical exercise to cope with any negative emotions. Additionally, 37% reported meditation and practicing mindfulness helped them the most in the run-up to the holidays.
Unfortunately, nearly a quarter of the nation uses alcohol or recreational substances to cope with financial pressure, spending time with family, and trying to live up to the expectation of a “perfect holiday.”
Stress and Gratitude by State
When looking at which states are suffering the most with holiday stress, it seems that Californianians are feeling the strain the most with an estimated 3 million struggling with factors such as financial pressure and family gatherings.
Although California is feeling the stress of the holidays, it appears that they are trying to counteract that by practicing gratitude as much as possible. An estimated 4 million people in the state use techniques such as expressing thanks verbally and sending thank you letters.
Other states struggling with stress and anxiety during the holiday season include Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois.
