Holiday blues: Majority of workers say holidays most mentally draining time of year

The weeks around Christmas and the New Year are not the most wonderful time of the year for everyone, according to a recent survey of workers.

In fact, nearly six in ten (57%) identify the holidays as the most mentally draining time of year, with financial worries topping the list of concerns, reports Modern Health, a provider of a mental health platform.

Two-thirds (66%) of employees said they feel pressure to overspend during the holidays, a figure that jumps to 77% among those in the “sandwich generation”—workers caring for both children and ageing relatives.

Workplace struggles with holiday season

Workplace obligations add to the strain. The report found that 57% of employees feel compelled to check work emails while on holiday, and over half (51%) have worked through the season to avoid family conflict or additional stress.

The struggle continues even after the festivities. After the holidays, 57% struggle to re-engage with their jobs, and a striking 40% have considered quitting due to burnout or anxiety about returning to work.

Despite these pressures, a majority (57%) believe their employer does not acknowledge the emotional and financial toll of the holiday season.

“The holidays are meant to be restorative, but for many employees they’ve become a perfect storm of financial worry, work and family pressure, and emotional strain,” says Dr. Jessica Watrous, chief clinical officer at Modern Health.

Family dynamics make things worse, study finds

Family dynamics and social expectations further complicate matters. The Modern Health survey of 1,000 full-time U.S. employees—conducted Oct. 21—found that more than half (54%) of employees expect family conflict to negatively affect their mental health during the holidays.

This number rises to 66% for parents and 71% for those in the sandwich generation. Additionally, 52% of respondents reported feeling lonelier or more isolated than usual, and nearly two-thirds felt pressure to appear happy or “in the holiday spirit” even when they were not.

Over half (53%) said that the expectation to be “grateful” or “festive” actually worsened their mental health.

“Even small acts of flexibility and understanding from employers can help ensure everyone feels supported throughout the season,” says Watrous. “Employers can’t eliminate holiday stress, but they can support employees in navigating it by creating environments where people feel understood, supported, and able to prioritise their well-being during one of the most emotionally loaded times of the year.”

As Canadian workplaces grapple with a persistent mental health crisis, new data underscores the need for innovative solutions—and artificial intelligence (AI) could play a pivotal role in supporting workers’ well-being, according to a previous report.

Supporting employees during the holiday season

Here are some ways employers can support workers during the holiday season, according to Workplace Intelligence:

• Offer more schedule flexibility.
• Give people the option to work remotely.
• Encourage team members to take time off.
• Do what you can to decrease people’s workload.
• Ramp up communication about mental health.
• Help employees give back.
• Be generous with holiday gift-giving.
• Use virtual tools to bring teams together.
• Check in often with your employees.
• Promote well-being and self-care.