Holiday travel can be a stressful time for many. Gathering the kids, scheduling time off from work and school, getting everyone packed up appropriately, getting everyone in the car and on the road on time, coordinating with loved ones across the whole process … it can be hectic. Many people are opting out this year and simply staying home instead. This information comes according to a recent survey shared by Excedrin as part of its ‘Tis Headache Relief Sweepstakes. The stress doesn’t seem to be specific to one generation, as the survey found 71% of Gen Z and 49% of Millenials said they’ve experienced literal or metaphorical headaches due to travel over the past year. Amber Holmes of Holmes Counseling & Wellness “Post-pandemic life is different. There are still adjustments being made by people who were stuck in solitude for so long. Many people lost family members or were denied access to things that made them more social, so holidays look different these days,” notes Holmes.
While AAA still predicts there will be a high number of travelers on the roads and in the skies during the Christmas holidays, the growing number of people avoiding traveling to see families may be part of a larger trend. Cypress Atlas, a PLPC therapist in New Orleans, notes that the holidays have always been a stressful time for people, but the current economic climate isn’t helping. “Holidays are always stressful for some people, and as costs have gone up in other areas of life, including travel, many people are stressed in a great many areas of life right now,” Atlas notes.
For those opting to stay home for the holidays, it can be easy to slip into loneliness or depression when you feel alienated from loved ones (whether by choice or not). If you are staying home and trying to fight the lonely bug, Atlas suggests finding others you share common ground with and spending the holiday together. “Try finding other people who are in a similar situation as you, whether they’re your friends or part of your community, and come together with others who aren’t traveling,” she suggests. “I would also start thinking about creating new traditions! What is important to YOU during the holidays? How can you make that new tradition happen in ways that make the most sense for you? Being open to that new tradition and being open to spending time with others in that situation can make you feel less alone,” Atlas goes on to say.
For those who are still going through with holiday travel plans, despite being anxious and stressed about it, counselor Amber Holmes says it can help to keep the bigger picture in mind. “It’s the holidays. The biggest part of this moment is getting together with our families,” Holmes is quick to emphasize. “Once we take that deep breath when we’re settled in around our friends and family … all of those things we had to go through to get there are well worth it,” Holmes adds. Fellowship is wherever you find it, and hopefully those in the New Orleans area can find their own fun without the headaches.