Some holiday reading for all you Scrooges out there.
While the holiday season may be merry and bright, it also comes with its fair share of stresses.
It can be easy to forget about all the cheer and good will while you’re trying to balance your holiday budget.
According to a new Consumer Reports survey, a lot of you out there have forgotten how to enjoy the season.
The survey asked what people dread the most about the holidays. While the usual suspects (family, crowds, shopping) made the list, some stresses are a bit more surprising (and upsetting):
- Crowds and long lines: 68 percent
- Gaining weight: 37 percent
- Getting into debt: 37 percent
- Gift shopping: 28 percent
- Traveling: 25 percent
- Seeing certain relatives: 24 percent
- Seasonal music: 23 percent
- Disappointing gifts: 19 percent
- Having to attend holiday parties or events: 16 percent
- Having to be nice: 15 percent
- Holiday tipping: 12 percent
We’ll talk about the music later, but for now I’d like to draw your attention to number 10. Yes, you read that correctly. Having to be nice is one of the top holiday dreads.
Really? You consider that to be a holiday requirement?
I think we found the root of your problem.
Maybe you won’t dread it quite as much if you make it a year-round practice. You can build up an immunity to that nausseating feeling you get everytime you treat others like they’re actual people.
I would recommend starting with small things, like not glaring at people when you pass them on the street. From there you can work your way up to smiling, and maybe some eye contact.
Before you know it your list of holiday dreads will be down to 10 items.
As for the rest of the list, well, we’ll have more on that tomorrow, along with some helpful tips on how to be nice.
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More on the Story: ConsumerReports.org