OHIO — The holidays can be a time of joy, whether it comes to family gatherings, looking at the Christmas lights or more.

But for some, the season comes with a lot of stress and anxiety.

What You Need To Know

  • Ohio State Wexner's study of 1,004 adults showed 46% don't get the alone time they need during the holidays

  • A previous study from the American Psychological Association showed 90% of Americans feel stressed during the holidays

  • An Ohio State psychologist stressed the importance of taking brief breaks for physical and mental health

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center surveyed 1,004 Americans 18 and older between Oct. 4 and Oct. 7 to gauge the mentality of individuals during the holidays.

Of the respondents, 46% said they don’t get the alone time they need during this time of the year, and 56% said alone time is important for their mental health.

Additionally, a 2023 survey from the American Psychological Association of more than 2,000 U.S. adults showed that nearly 90% of respondents feel stressed during the holidays, and 41% said they have higher stress levels this time of the year compared to any other time.

Sophie Lazarus, a clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Ohio State, said while society may glorify a hustle-and-bustle-type lifestyle, a brief break or two can be beneficial to mental and physical health.

“By taking a brief pause alone, our nervous system can settle, our mind can settle, our body can settle. And I think that can be important. We know that chronic stress is not good for us,” said Lazarus.

Lazarus focuses on mindfulness-based interventions, mood and anxiety disorders. She said there are ways to cope with the stress during the holiday season.

A few tips she recommended are to try putting your phone in a different room when you want to spend alone time, or take a few minutes in the car before picking up children or before going back to your home.

Lazarus added it’s important to do what works best for your lifestyle and routine.

“One size doesn't fit everyone. Being flexible and finding a balance is best,” Lazarus said.

Additionally, she said alone time doesn’t always have to be necessarily so lonely.

“Some people might experience alone time from going to a movie by themselves or going to a park where there's a lot of people, or going to a coffee shop,” Lazarus said. “It can also be this absence of having to perform or interact socially in a more direct way.”