Nearly half of festive Brits feel December is more tiring than any other month

19 December 2023 , 15:22

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Brits have already attended two Christmas parties, on average, by December 19 (Image: SWNS)

Nearly half of festive Brits (47%) feel December is more exhausting than any other month – due to their packed social calendar, research has found.

Some of the most tiring obligations this month include work Christmas parties (13%), hosting the in-laws (11%), and travelling to visit family (23%).

In fact, a poll of 2,000 adults, who celebrate the holiday season, found that 27% are so busy already, they are having to turn down social invites for the rest of December.

And today (December 19) has been dubbed “Yule Tired Day”, as over half (52%) admit they are already running low on Christmas spirit, due to the festive fatigue kicking in.

This may be because the average respondent has already dragged themselves out on four Christmas shopping trips, as well as attending two lunches, and two parties.

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Meanwhile, one in five (21%) have already had the in-laws round, and the same number have sat through at least two Nativity plays.

As such, four in 10 feel they have spent so much time focusing on loved ones, that they have hardly had any time to look after themselves.

And four in 10 find Christmas shopping exhausting - with over a third admitting they are behind on this (SWNS)

The research was commissioned by Specsavers, and also found that, as a result of social obligations and long overdue catch-ups taking over, 35% feel they have fallen behind on Christmas shopping, while almost a third (31%) still have not sent out any Christmas cards.

However, for 40%, the festivities officially start to take their toll when they take their foot off the gas at work. Many admit they are trying to hide their fatigue in their job – with 18% opting to work remotely, while 11% turn their camera off during video calls, and 10% are choosing to hide behind their glasses to mask their bleary eyes.

Shopping for presents (42%), cleaning the house ready to welcome people over (36%), and preparing Christmas dinner (29%), were also named among the things considered most tiring this month. And in a bid to recover from the Yuletide fatigue, 27% will be trying to avoid social gatherings in January.

The research, which was conducted via OnePoll, found 57% feel their eyes are the biggest give away when they’re feeling tired. Headaches (30%), sore or itchy eyes (21%), and difficulty focusing (15%), are also among the symptoms people experience during the busy festive season.

Director of Clinical Services, Giles Edmonds, at Specsavers, said: “December is a busy time of year, with lots of social festivities to cram in – so it’s no wonder that by the middle of the month, people are starting to feel the effects.

“The combination of holiday preparations, year-end work deadlines, and festive gatherings, can take a toll on energy levels. For many, the eyes are also the biggest giveaway that they’re not feeling 100%, so people might be trying to hide their tiredness with glasses, if they wear them – or even sunglasses.

“Late-night celebrations, coupled with our use of screens for work or to watch Christmas telly, can contribute to eye fatigue, making it particularly important to look after your eyes during this time.”

EXPERT TIPS TO PREVENT EYE STRAIN OVER THE FESTIVE PERIOD:

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Top causes of eye strain over Christmas:

• Driving for long periods to visit loved ones
• Increased stress levels and fatigue
• Straining eyes to watch the TV
• Exposure to bright festive lights

Top tips to reduce symptoms such as headaches, itchy eyes, increased light sensitivity, and even blurred or double vision:

• 20:20:20 Rule – A technique recommended for all screen users. Take a small break every 20 minutes to focus your eyes on something 20 feet away, for at least 20 seconds. This will help your eye muscles relax, and reduce the likelihood of digital eye strain.
• Contact lenses – To ensure eyes are kept safe and healthy, lens wearers should insert their lenses before putting on make-up, and remember to take them out before removing make-up after a night out. Avoid make-up that includes powdery or metallic eyeshadow, and mascara with fibres, as the particles can get into your lenses, and cause damage to your eye.
• Dry eyes – Take a break from wearing your lenses, or change to a different lens material. You could also use contact lens‑friendly dry eye drops onto your lenses before you apply them each day, to help relieve symptoms.
• Red eyes – Whilst red eyes can be alarming, there can be a wide number of causes for this, including simply increased levels of tiredness over the festive period. You can try eye drops for more immediate relief, but if this doesn’t work, or the redness is more severe, you should contact your optician.

Andrew Young