In the lead up to Christmas 2023 we discovered that Brits are experiencing festive burnout as they over-book their diary and many months are spent planning for Christmas Day.
We surveyed 1,000 UK adults across the UK aged 18 to 65 to identify why Brits are feeling stressed around the festive season and help people to take it slow for a more enjoyable Christmas.
According to the research, most Brits (45.8%) begin prepping for Christmas up to two months before the big day, from saving money and buying gifts to planning the dinner and organising social gatherings.
For those in Northern Ireland, planning begins even earlier, particularly among the 25-34 age group as 66.7% of those surveyed say they start planning up to four months before. Leaving many in that part of the country feeling deflated and burnt out before Christmas Day even arrives.
In contrast, Scots and Londoners take a more laid back approach when it comes to planning, with 37% of people in the same age group in Scotland and more than half (52.4%) of people in London waiting until less than a month before to buy gifts and plan their turkey dinner.
People in London may prefer a last-minute dash to months of planning, but when it comes to social festivities, they just can’t say no. 60.5% of those surveyed in the region admitted they agree to attending more social gatherings even if they don’t want to go, just because it’s Christmas.
Those in the North West (60%) and North East (57.5%) also struggle to turn-down a festive night out, leaving many people across the country with little social battery left for Christmas and New Year.
Speaking on the research, Jayne Andrews our marketing Director said: ‘Christmas is always a busy time with more places to be, people to see and things to do. It’s important we all remember to slow down and appreciate the things we love about this time of year, otherwise, we end up exhausted before Christmas Day even arrives.”
“At Fentimans, we’re big believers in taking it slow and savouring the moment, even when it comes to brewing our drinks, which can take up to 7 days. To help Brits avoid the feeling of festive burnout, we’ve created five top tips for taking it slow this Christmas.”
- Prioritise what makes you happy and remember you don’t have to say yes to everything just because it’s Christmas. Commit to the events you really want to attend or try to merge different friendship and family groups together for one big catch-up, versus multiple outings. This can also help with saving money, too. Also, don’t feel obliged to buy everyone gifts. A secret Santa with a low spend limit is just as fun and takes the pressure off.
- Schedule downtime. Whether you block out a full day or a couple of hours, make time for yourself to watch a movie, enjoy a festive cocktail, listen to your favourite Christmas songs or simply, do nothing.
- Make the swap to no/low. If you’re already feeling the effects of festive burnout, alcohol can intensify these feelings, especially the following day. Try swapping some of your festive favourites to the no/low option and see how much better you feel. If you need some inspiration, you can check out the no/low pairings guide on our website here.
- Get Creative. Take a break from shopping and slow down for an hour or two with some craft. Try your hand at wreath making, your own tree or table decorations, or even handmade gifts. A mindful activity will help you to unwind, and the finished product will leave you feeling more satisfied than if you had bought it off the shelf.
- Get outdoors (if the weather allows!). This may seem like an obvious one, but we can’t underestimate the power of fresh air. It’s a natural mood enhancer and a great way to take a break from the chaos that usually surrounds us at Christmas time.