Many parents know that holiday season “magic” is often just a word for hard work they’re putting in to make things festive and special for their families. In fact, a new survey shows that most parents lose sleep to make the magic happen.
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This survey of 2,000 parents with school-aged children ages 3 to 18 conducted from Nov. 12 to Nov. 18 by Talker Research on behalf of HP found that two out of three parents have pulled an all nighter “in the spirit of holiday magic.” Results of the survey also found that the average parent planned to stay up past midnight five times throughout the holiday season to get all of their preparations done.
Pressure to make the holidays special also seems to have become even greater this year. More than three quarters of the survey respondents (77%) said they felt pressure to make this year’s holidays better than they were last year.
“Some extreme lengths participants said they have gone to in order to make the holidays stand out for their children include having someone get on the roof to recreate the sound of Santa’s boots, covering their floors with baby powder to showcase Santa’s footprints and tying fishing line to their elf doll to make it fly,” Talker Research said.
Half of parents admitted that they sometimes run out of ideas for entertaining their families and 43% said they struggle to entertain their children during the holidays. Overall, 13-year-old children seemed to be the hardest to keep entertained, based on the survey results, and Christmas Eve was the most difficult day to plan festivities for.
“The holidays can feel overwhelming, but enjoying the little moments with your loved ones is what the winter season is all about,” said Brittany Jepsen of The House That Lars Built, who worked with HP to create free Festivity Activity holiday materials. “From decorating the house to listening to your favorite holiday playlist together, finding ways to spend time together help build the memories that really matter.”
Even though parents are losing sleep to make holiday cheer happen, 86% still considered festive activities to be the best quality time they had with their families all year. Around the same percentage said that it is important to spend time with their loved ones without distractions from smartphones and tablets.
Parents might think it is worth it to forego rest to make the holidays perfect, but they should also protect their health. Dr. Brynn Dredla, a Mayo Clinic sleep neurologist, said that losing just an hour of sleep can have a dramatic impact on the human body.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults age 18 to 60 years old require seven or more hours of sleep each night. Getting enough sleep is essential for health – it helps prevent illness, supports maintaining a healthy weight, reduces stress, improves mood, supports heart health, supports metabolism and lowers the risk of developing chronic conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke.
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