7 Reasons Why the Holidays Stress Us Out (Even Though We Love Them)
Thanksgiving Week Mini-Series: Holiday Stress, Unwrapped (Part One) Let’s be honest: the holidays are a beautiful, sparkly, cinnamon-scented paradox. We look forward to them all year… and then, once they finally show up, we suddenly remember, “Oh right. This is the part where everything gets chaotic.” If you’ve ever felt your eye twitch the moment someone mentions “holiday plans,” you’re not alone. In fact, most of us experience a noticeable uptick in stress this time of year—even when nothing is technically wrong. The holidays just come with a special blend of pressure, nostalgia, and expectations that can tie our nerves into decorative little bows. So before December sweeps us up like a rogue shopping cart in a crowded parking lot, let’s take a breath and look at why the holidays stress us out in the first place. 1. Expectations Go Through the Roof There’s something about the holiday season that makes us believe we must suddenly transform into the CEO of Festivity. We want: The ...