A new SPAR UK survey reveals that 31% of Brits find Christmas the most stressful time of year, with big food shops (25%), limited oven space (23%), and missing parcels (11%) topping the list of festive frustrations.
While one in ten (9%) said finding wrapping paper EVERYWHERE drives them mad – and 12% BEGRUDGE having to partake in their office secret Santa.
Lazy partners, finding enough chairs, teens refusing to help - and pine needles everywhere are among the other stresses, according to the survey. But it was the sheer cost of it all which took the top spot in terms of Christmas stresses. While Christmas is always an expensive time, with the current cost-of-living crisis top of mind, 44% say forking out for the big day is their biggest festive stress.
In fact, for 59% the pressure regularly proves too much as they admit they can be a tad “Bah Humbug” at times. One in five (21%) have even gone so far as to consider cancelling Christmas because of the stress. For a fifth (20%) of Brits, 20th of December is when we begin to realise that we’ve bitten off more than we can chew when it comes to Christmas. Eight in ten (81%) say there is just TOO MUCH to think about and remember, with more than half (57%) regularly suffering from Christmas brain fog as a result.
Jo Hemmings, Behavioural Psychologist says:
“Christmas is one of the most emotionally charged times of the year. We’re juggling dozens of ‘mental tabs’ at once - from remembering gift lists and managing family expectations to planning meals, travel, and budgets. This constant cognitive multitasking puts our brains into a near-permanent state of alert. Even the small decisions, like choosing the right festive foods or timing the shop just right, stack up until they feel overwhelming. When our mental resources are stretched like that, our stress levels naturally rise.
At its heart, the anxiety many of us feel isn’t about Christmas itself, but the pressure we put on ourselves to create a perfect moment for everyone else. Understanding that - and lightening the load where we can - helps us reclaim the joy of the season.”
Melody Aguero from SPAR UK says:
The research also found that on average Brits experience 250 stressful moments in the build up to Christmas, with Sunday 14 December at 4pm being the most stressful point. Regionally Norwich (90%), Newcastle (81%), Birmingham (80%) and Swansea (80%) are the capitals of Christmas stress.
But it seems that the stress doesn’t completely go away, as six in ten (60%) have had to go out on Christmas morning to fetch something that they’d forgotten or not planned for, with milk (39%), extra wrapping paper (32%), more sellotape (28%), batteries for toys (22%) and a last-minute gift for a surprise guest (20%) the main culprits for the dash.
Despite the stress, 87% look forward to Christmas with 28% of Brits admitting they like to celebrate in a big way, with good food, decorations and most of the usual traditions.
TOP 30 CHRISTMAS STRESSES, ACCORDING TO BRITS
- The sheer cost of it all 44%
- The big Christmas food shop 25%
- Wrapping a mountain of presents 24%
- Lengthy shopping queues 23%
- Not having enough oven space 23%
- The in-laws 15%
- Having to partake in Secret Santa 12%
- Losing the end of Sellotape 12%
- Party hangovers 12%
- Cooking Christmas lunch 11%
- People with dietary requirements 11%
- Parcels which fail to show up 11%
- Fighting through the crowds 10%
- Washing up roasting tins 9%
- Wrapping paper everywhere 9%
- People staying in your house 9%
- Fussy eaters 8%
- Unexpected guests turning up 8%
- Trying to unravel Christmas lights 8%
- Making sure the Turkey isn’t dry 8%
- Cooking enough roast potatoes 7%
- Teenagers who refuse to help 7%
- Kids waking up at 5am 7%
- Batteries NOT being included 7%
- Traffic on the way to see family 7%
- Pine needles everywhere 5%
- Your partner being lazy 5%
- Finding enough chairs 4%
- Different political views 3%
- Deciding who is designated driver 2%
From Frenzied to Festive: Jo Hemmings’ Tips to Keeping Things Calm This Christmas
o Plan early, but keep it flexible
Planning meals, gifts and gatherings ahead of time gives you a sense of control, which instantly reduces stress. But build in breathing space for the inevitable unexpected changes - having a little flexibility means you’re far less likely to feel overwhelmed when those plans do change. The research suggests that the weekend before Christmas is the most stressful of all, but early planning can help with that, as can booking a night off and doing something distracting and fun, which will help stop your mind from working overtime.
o Simplify your shopping strategy
Break your Christmas shop into smaller, manageable trips or use online deliveries to avoid sensory overload. Don’t panic, your local SPAR, will have something similar to the item or two that might have been missed off your list and you can pop there even at the very last minute. Spreading tasks out prevents that ‘all at once’ overwhelm that makes festive prep feel far bigger than it really is.
o Set realistic expectations
Christmas doesn’t have to look like a glossy TV advert to be meaningful. In fact, if you think about it, have you ever seen a Christmas look quite as perfect as the highly-filtered images you see on TV? Unlikely… Focus on what really matters - connection, comfort and shared moments - rather than striving for perfection.
o Share the load
Delegate tasks to family or guests, whether it’s bringing a dish, topping up drinks, prepping veg or helping with decorations. People of any age or capability feel good when they contribute, and it removes the psychological burden of feeling you must do it all yourself.
o Protect moments of calm
Even ten minutes of fresh air, mindful breathing or a quiet coffee can reset your stress levels. Sometimes just removing yourself to another room for five minutes can help with a calming moment. These micro-breaks reduce your stress hormone cortisol and help keep festive chaos in perspective. The findings reveal that while we understand that we need an occasional breather in the seasonal busyness, to reset and calm our minds, not many of us are actually doing it. My advice is to see it as a necessity, rather than an indulgence, so either plan to take some time for yourself, or grab it when you see an opportunity.
This survey of 2,000 Britons was commissioned by SPAR UK and was conducted by Perspectus Global during November 2025.
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