From the Editor: Remember the true purpose of the holidays this season
Art by Maya Sidhu.
The holiday season is finally here — a joyous time filled with feel-good music, festive displays, reuniting with friends and family, and, most importantly, catching some much-needed time away from work and school to relax and recharge.
We try to find moments of warmth in the cold weather by showing love, care, and gratitude to those closest to us, making the holidays what some might consider the most wonderful time of the year.
While all these sugar-coated moments sound perfect in theory, for many Canadians, the holiday season is a time of increased stress, both mentally and financially.
A survey released by Chartered Professional Accountants Canada and BDO Debt Solutions from October found 94 per cent of Canadians expect the holiday season to cause financial stress, with 39 per cent of respondents expecting to feel an increase in stress compared to last year.
Young Canadians, specifically millennials and gen Z, reported feeling the highest level of holiday stress when it comes to finances, with many preparing to overspend.
The Canadian Mental Health Association also found that 52 per cent of Canadians reported feelings of anxiety, depression, and isolation during this time of the year. Leading factors for these feelings include holding high expectations, over indulgence, placing pressure on yourself to be “perfect,” too many social interactions, and feeling lonely.
The financial and social expectations we place on ourselves during the holiday season can be an exhausting, vicious cycle where we keep trying to outdo our best efforts from the previous year. Given the purpose of the holiday season, it’s easy to question how we ended up here — how, even when surrounded by Christmas lights, we are still in a dark place.
I’d argue the main culprit, which comes as no surprise, is consumerism. Every year, we are force fed advertisements of gift ideas and shopping deals from every medium of communication. We’ve adopted a mentality where someone’s value can equal the cost of a present and the physical act of giving means more than heartfelt words.
As we continue to live in an inflated economy where many Canadians still struggle to get by, it’s more important now than ever to understand and accept your holiday spending and mental limits. This time period should be an outlet of joy for everyone, not overshadowed by mass consumerism and overconsumption.
Given this, it’s important we remind ourselves that we don’t need to spend a ton of money on those we love to show them we care. Instead of focusing on materialism, you can give more heart-felt presents like a handmade card or ornament. For some, the greatest gift of all is that of time, and being able to spend it with the people who love you can mean more than a physical present ever could. Just remember to be kind to yourself and respect your social limits.
The holiday season is meant to be one of giving, gratitude, and relaxation, not the stressful, chaotic storm it has become.
Regardless of who you are or how you manage this time of the year, remember to respect your limits and do so guilt free — those who matter the most to you will still unconditionally love and appreciate you.
