Christmas is often described as “the most wonderful time of the year,” yet for many of us it brings pressure, the inability to say no, and emotional overload. From keeping everyone in the family happy, to financial costs and back-to-back social plans, your brain can quickly shift into stress mode.
When this happens, the amygdala , the brain’s alarm system, becomes more active. It interprets busyness, pressure, and conflict as threats, triggering the fight-or-flight response. This can show up as irritability, anxiety, trouble sleeping and even anger.
At the same time, the prefrontal cortex, your rational brain, responsible for calm thinking and decision-making, begins to tire. This makes it harder to say “no,” set boundaries, or even recognise when you’ve reached your limit.
In other words: a busy festive calendar can make your emotional brain shout louder and your logical brain whisper.
Part 2 coming next week