Christmas may be the most wonderful time of the year, but for many Brits it’s also the most stressful time of the year. New research conducted by Ragdale Hall Spa has revealed that over half of the nation (55%) find the festive season stressful, with buying gifts (13%), Christmas cooking (12%), and last-minute shopping (also 12%) topping the list of stressors.
Tis The Season To Be Stressed? Top Triggers Behind Britain’s Festive Stress
The study shows that festive stress begins to build long before Christmas Day itself, with nearly one in five (18%) admitting they start to feel overwhelmed in early-to-mid-December. And amongst Brits, it’s the younger generations feeling the stress the most, with over half of Gen Z (64%) and Millennials (64%) revealing they find Christmas time stressful, compared to 56% of Gen X and just 41% of Baby Boomers. The data also reveals that Geminis may have the hardest time staying calm over the festive season, with 64% of those under the twin sign saying the festivities are a cause of stress.
When asked what – or who – causes the most festive stress, 13% of Brits say their children, 9% their partners, and another 9% confess they’re their own biggest source of stress. Meanwhile, gift wrapping tops the list of Christmas traditions that secretly drive people mad (19%), followed by the post-Christmas clean up (19%) and gift buying (17%).
The Top Ten Christmas Traditions Driving Brits Mad
- Christmas gift-wrapping – 19%
2. Post-Christmas clean up – 19%
3. Christmas gift buying – 17%
4. Cooking for everyone – 16%
5. Decorating the tree – 14%
6. Visiting multiple relatives in one day – 13%
7. Matching pyjamas or outfits – 11%
8. Early wake ups (due to kids or travel commitments) – 9%
9. Office or neighbourhood parties – 8%
10. Christmas board games – 6%
Brits Are Choosing Presence Over Presents: One Third Opt For The Gift Of Time
This year, when it comes to gift giving, a third of Brits (34%) have revealed they would prefer to receive the gift of time – either for themselves or with loved ones – instead of physical gifts. While 11% admit they never find time for themselves over the holidays, those who do manage a little self-care say they like to relax by watching TV or films (41%), going for a walk (33%), eating chocolate (26%), having a glass of wine (21%), treating themselves to a spa day (8%), or popping on a face mask at home (6%).
While 7% of men admit to leaving their gift shopping until the week before Christmas, only 3% of women do the same. Interestingly, it’s Gen Z who are the most organised, with 8% getting their gifts sorted as early as six months in advance. For anyone feeling the pressure of last-minute shopping, Ragdale Hall Spa gift vouchers offer the perfect stress-free solution – a thoughtful present that gives loved ones the chance to relax, unwind, and recharge.
When asked what would make the biggest difference to their stress levels, Brits said that having no family drama (20%), not having to cook (14%), no gift buying (11%) and no gift wrapping (10%) would make the holidays feel much more peaceful.
Helen Walshaw, Senior Holistic Therapist at Ragdale Hall Spa comments: “When the chaos of Christmas hits – from endless to-do lists to family dynamics and travel plans – it’s easy for your nervous system to go into festive overdrive. But you don’t need to disappear to a spa to reset. There are discreet spa techniques that soothe stress in the moment, that you can practice without anyone even noticing. Think of them as stealth self-care: tiny rituals that ground and rebalance your body from the inside out.”
Ragdale Hall Spa’s top tips for reducing festive stress…
1. The Double Inhale Reset – “Take one deep inhale through your nose – then a second, tiny top-up breath before a long, slow exhale. This simple ‘physiological sigh’ instantly signals safety to the body. It’s like a micro massage for your nervous system.”
2. Ice on the Pulse – “Press a cold compress or even an ice cube to your wrists or the back of your neck for 30 seconds. It activates the vagus nerve and drops your heart rate – your private cryotherapy moment between party prep and present wrapping.”
3. Palm-to-Forehead Press – “Warm your hands, place one on your forehead, the other at the base of your skull. Close your eyes for a few slow breaths. It quiets the overthinking zone of the brain – a secret spa hold you can do in the bathroom at Christmas lunch.”
4. Herbal Inhale – “Keep a small sachet of dried rosemary, chamomile, or lavender in your pocket or bag. When things feel tense, inhale deeply. This works because scent directly accesses the limbic system (your emotional centre in the brain) grounding you faster than words.”
5. Pressure-Point Perfume – “Dot a drop of lavender or neroli essential oil on pulse points. When you feel the stress rise, press and hold those points as you breathe. It’s part acupressure, part ritual, making your perfume your calm cue.”
To give the gift of relaxation this Christmas, please head to: Ragdale Gift Vouchers – Ragdale Hall Spa
