What’s stressing people out the most during the holidays? Hint: It’s not just politics

If you feel more stressed than ever, you’re not alone.

A recent study by OnePoll surveyed 2,000 people and found that 68% are the most stressed they’ve been in their entire lives.

Between the current political climate, health conditions and work pressures, most people say their stress is so bad it’s causing them to be less productive in the workplace.

And now with Christmas fast approaching, holiday stressors are also piling on and taking cracks at our serenity.

Here’s what’s stressing people out most during the holidays — and a few tips on how to cope.

Most Stressful: Gifting

Shopping for gifts is a holiday stressor for 37% of people surveyed, according to OnePoll.

But experts say it doesn’t have to be.

Reddit marketing manager Kaela Worthen Gardner told the Huffington Post all it takes is a little thought to track down the right gifts for loved ones. She recommends spending two minutes to make a list of all things your loved one is interested in — then coming up with a gift that relates to each item on the list.

“You don’t have to give all of those gifts, but you’re going to hit on some cool ideas you wouldn’t have otherwise, and when you combine a few of them, your giftee will appreciate how personal and thoughtful you were,” Gardner said.

On the flip side, 31% of people cited receiving gifts as a stressful part of the holidays.

How can you receive a gift well? Life coach April Julson says to remember the gift isn’t about you.

“They want to experience giving you a gift,” she told the Huffington Post. “They want to feel exactly how you want to feel when you give a gift - so make sure you allow that!”

Cooking

The holiday meal is adding stress to its fair share of revelers, according to the study. Thirty-four percent of people reported cooking as one of the most stressful things about the season.

If this sounds like you, don’t worry: The experts at Food Network have a few tips and tricks that can make feeding the hungry brood a little easier.

A little planning can go a long way, according to the Food Network. They recommend assembling salads and cutting up vegetables beforehand to save yourself a headache the day-of.

If it’s the turkey that has you stressed, the experts at Food Network say to downsize and try cooking a cornish hen, instead. They don’t take as long to cook and are perfectly sized for individual servings.

Family Politics

While it’s farther from the top spot than you might have guessed, a whopping 27% of people say that family politics are a stressful part of the holidays.

Talk of impeachments and phone calls won’t be far from the Christmas dinner table, but negotiation expert Alexandria Skinner says those conversations don’t have to devolve into verbal lashings.

She recommends putting your focus on being curious by asking open-ended, nonjudgmental questions to better understand the underlying drivers.

“It may surprise you when the real issue or basis for the belief is totally different from the way that concern was expressed at first,” Skinner said on Mediate.com.

If that still feels like a recipe for disaster, Skinner says diversions are a great way to defuse tense situations at the table. She recommends providing “escape routes” by asking family to help with tasks like carving the ham.

The full list of holiday stressors:

Shopping for gifts - 37%

Visiting family - 36%

Cooking - 34%

Receiving gifts - 31%

Crowds and lines - 30%

Other shopping - 30%

Attending social events - 29%

Family politics - 27%

Work ramps up - 27%

Hosting - 25%

You can read more about the study here.

This story was originally published December 23, 2019 at 10:43 AM with the headline "What’s stressing people out the most during the holidays? Hint: It’s not just politics."