The "mental load" of planning, cooking, and decorating often falls disproportionately on one person. 🕯️ Coping Strategies

Financial stress is a primary driver of holiday unhappiness.

Spending time with estranged or difficult relatives can trigger anxiety.

Many consumers take on high-interest debt to meet social expectations, leading to a "financial hangover" in January.

The "holiday blues" are a documented phenomenon where the pressure to be happy causes the opposite effect.