These are Londoners' biggest Christmas Day stresses

It might be the most wonderful time of the year, but Christmas is also one of the most stressful.

A new study by RIOT Labs has revealed Londoners’ biggest stresses throughout the festive season from cooking a turkey to the cost of gifts and squabbling relatives.

The data also revealed how Londoners cope with the stress of the season, with more than 23% choosing to eat their feelings.

London was named the fifth most stressed-out city in the UK when it comes to Christmas.

Among those who celebrate in London, over two-thirds (67.3%) report feeling at least a little stressed during the run-up to the festive season, with 13% saying they feel “very stressed”.

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These figures vary wildly across the UK, with stress levels at their lowest in Glasgow with less than half (46.5%) feeling the pressure to perform.

Here’s a breakdown of London’s biggest festive stresses on the big day and in the lead-up to Christmas.

London’s top 5 biggest Xmas Day stresses

1. Cooking Christmas dinner perfectly - 19%
2. Family drama - 16.4%
3. Spending time with relatives they don’t like - 16%
4. Remembering everybody’s gifts on the day - 14.9%
5. Watching others open gifts they have given them - 12.3%

Londoners biggest stresses during the festive season

1. Increased financial expense - 18.2%
2. Navigating difficult family relationships - 14.1%
3. Visiting supermarkets/high street - 13.4%
4. Finding right gift for everyone on list in time - 13%
5. Worrying about diet / consuming rich foods / ensuring I have enough festive food to serve visitors (joint) - 11.2%

Top 5 ways London eases stress on Christmas Day

1. Eating more than usual 23.4%
2. Drinking more than usual 18.6%
3. Scrolling social media more than usual 13%
4. Exercising or working out 10.8%
5. Limiting time around loved ones 9.7%

What’s your biggest festive stress? Let us know in the comments section below.

It’s a cost of living Christmas: Almost one in five are worried about the financial expense of a Christmas in London

When it comes to what’s stressing us out in the build-up to Christmas Day, financial expense was the biggest stressor in London, causing concern for over one in five (18.2%).

The second biggest cause of Christmas stress for Londoners was navigating difficult family relationships (14.1%). Also appearing in the top five for festive stresses were visiting the supermarkets and high streets with 13.4% London residents fearing the Christmas crowds.

London isn’t just stressed about Christmas costs and crowds, they’re worried about the food culture of Christmas. Over one in ten (11.2%) reported worries about what they would be eating over the Christmas period, eating food that was too rich and making sure they had enough festive food for guests.