Rest is Essential During the Holidays, But it May Mean Getting Active, Not Crashing on the Couch
- Dec 23, 2025
- 3 min read
The holiday season is often painted as an idyllic vision of rest, conjuring images of warm beverages and bountiful time with loved ones. But many people have trouble unwinding at this time of year. Why do the December holidays offer the promise of respite but never seem to deliver? And is more restorative rest possible during this busy season?
Active leisure experiences, like going for a walk outdoors, can help reduce stress and restore energy during the holidays. Adrien Delforge/Unsplash
I am a psychologist who studies how rest supports learning, creativity and well-being. Sleep is often the first thing that many people associate with rest, but humans also require restorative downtime when awake. These active rest periods include physical, social and creative experiences that can occur throughout the day – not just while mindlessly scrolling on the couch.
When holiday stresses begin to snowball, rest periods replenish depleted psychological resources, reduce stress and promote well-being. But reaping the full benefits of rest and leisure requires more than a slow morning or a mug of hot cocoa. It’s also about intentionally scheduling active recovery periods that energize us and leave us feeling restored. That’s because good rest needs to be anticipated, planned and refined.
Holiday tasks and rituals can crowd out time for rest, unless it’s planned into your day. Ilona Titova/iStock via Getty Images Plus.
The winter holiday season can take a toll on well-being. Financial stress increases, and daily routines are disrupted. Add the stress of travel, plus a dash of challenging family dynamics, and it’s not surprising that emotional well-being declines during the holiday season.
Quality rest and leisure periods can buffer these stressors, promoting recovery and well-being. They also can help reduce psychological strain and prolong positive emotions as people return to work.
Holiday season brings festivities and stresses
Asked which of a range of factors typically cause them stress during the November-January holiday season, respondents ranked concerns about gifts first, followed by time pressures and separation from loved ones.
"Which of the following typically causes you stress during the holiday season? Please select all that apply." Conducted November 14-16, 2023,
Effective rest comes in many forms, from going outdoors for a walk to socializing, listening to music or engaging in creative hobbies. These activities may feel like distractions, but they serve important mental health functions. Research finds that walking in nature results in diminished activation in the area of the brain associated with sadness and ruminating thoughts.
One of the most robust findings from psychologists who study leisure is that the effectiveness of rest periods depends on how satisfying they feel to the individual. People often spend their free time doing things that are not satisfying.
Festive doesn’t have to mean perfect. Sally Anscombe/DigitalVision via Getty Images
To combat the pitfall of poor rest cycles, science suggests planning for active rest and pleasant activities, and carrying through with those plans. A large body of research shows that designing, scheduling and engaging in enjoyable activities is effective at lowering symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Humans need restorative periods of downtime during the holidays and beyond, but this does not always come easily or naturally to everyone. Through small adjustments and intentional actions, good rest can be within reach this holiday season.