Is Christmas Becoming Boring?
By Giselle Arechiga, December 14th 2024
The holiday season is in the air! Christmas lights shine on previously dull houses, Christmas trees peek through the windows, the first fall of snow and you know it's that time of the year again. However, with every new year passing by the magic and holiday spirit of Christmas continues to fade away.
A survey by the American Psychological Association found that 38% of respondents stated that holidays make them more stressed out with their top stressors being short on time or money, commercialism, the pressure of gift-giving, and family gatherings.
The struggle to find the perfect gift for someone special is always challenging but when the gift is for the holidays many tend to feel obligated to spend more than they can afford. This can lead to general feelings of unhappiness or stress around the holidays since much of the season is spent “gift-giving” which can cause an overall lack of interest when it comes around.
Along with the overspending of gifts many face, the pressure to gift give is already enough. The concept of giving someone a gift is to show your appreciation for the people in your life but what if you have no desire to give them a gift? Different family dynamics make this even more stressful, the pressure to find the perfect gift for each family member can be overwhelming. This includes the underlying tension or conflicts that may lie, adding a touch of resentment or disinterest in the act of giving or receiving gifts.
I remember when i was a kid being so excited for Christmas that I wouldn't be able to sleep the night before, too eager for the magic that was about to unravel the morning after. These days it seems as that magic isn't there anymore-or not as prompt as when we were kids.
As we got older, unrealistic expectations started to chip away from the enchantment, different stressors from our life's started to get in the way of the experience which leaves the pressure to create the perfect holiday experience from childhood often overshadowed the simple joys of the holiday. Stressing over perfection can make the holiday season feel more like a chore than a celebration, leaving many longing for the more magical.
