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Christmas Lifestyle Christmas is a time for stress - and here's what causes it over the festive season Over a third of us take a sneaky day off work to get Christmas shopping done in time. * * * * * Share * * Comments ByDemelza De-Burca * 13:47, 20 DEC 2016 * Updated13:47, 20 DEC 2016 Lifestyle This year will be very tight for the Redditor * * * * * Share * * Comments Get daily updates directly to your inbox ____________________ (Submit) + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email 'Tis the season to be stressed out of your eyeballs. There's just days to go until Christmas Day and many of us are collapsing under the weight of everything there is to do at this time of year. A new study by Argos has found that the top seasonal stresses are gift buying, budgeting and trying not to put on weight while being tempted to feast on festive food and drink at Christmas. Some of us see Christmas shopping as so stressful that almost a third of us (32%) will take a day off work to get our lists ticked in time. Thousands of us are not helping our rocketing stress levels with 12% of us leaving gift buying until a last-stop-shop on Christmas Eve. Some 44% will take a full lunch break or hit the shops straight after work. But there are some shoppers who will avoid the Christmas rush altogether as 12% of those surveyed said they will be shopping for Christmas 2017 in the January sales. Read More * The best Irish Christmas songs by homegrown talent Our anxiety stems from having to buy around eight presents for our loves ones, with the average spend being around €300 on gifts. And this won't really come as a surprise to any women who've been handed a foot spa on Christmas Day - men are three times more likely than women to leave all their Christmas shopping to the last minute. The research also revealed that a third of us fret over buying presents more than anything else. Man sat at a dinner table at Christmas looking sad (Photo: Getty) But our concerns don't always focus on what to buy for family and friends - one in 10 say their top stress is trying not to put on weight when tempted to feast on delicious food and drink at Christmas, and men worry almost as much as women about weight gain over the festive season. Budgeting is the top stress as 9% of people revealed they spend over €1,000 on Christmas presents. Meanwhile, 9% are also rather more self-concerned and say their biggest worry in the run up to Christmas is deciding what presents they want to receive. The study also looked at the exact moment we begin to really panic about gift buying. Read More * How to cook the perfect turkey according to top chef Kevin Dundon Irish people revealed that as soon as Halloween is over is when the fear truly sets in but interestingly, over 12% said the dreaded question from their partner “What are we doing for Christmas this year?” also adds to the panic. Andy McClelland, Operations Manager, for Argos Republic of Ireland comments: “Last year we saw an 83% spike in sales the week before Christmas, as festive cheer turned to ‘festive fear’ and late shoppers spurred into action. "Our Check and Reserve service with free in-store collection means that this year even the most belated of shoppers can find gifts to wow - right up until Santa’s busiest night of the year.” Our top seasonal stresses 1. Budgeting 35% 2. Gift finding 29% 3. Trying not to put on weight 12% 4. Visiting family 9% 5. Deciding what I would like to receive 9% Read More Christmas 2016: Shopping, Santa and festive fun * Panic as top toy sells out * Get on Santa's Sleigh! * Holidays are coming * Festive Sparkle * Red Rock star in Gaiety Panto * Santa Claus carrying sack of presents Best beauty buys for Christmas * Christmas Markets * How to pick the best Christmas Tree * Like us on Facebook * Follow us on Twitter * Daily Newsletter * Follow @irishmirror Subscribe to our Daily newsletterEnter email ____________________Subscribe Comments Show more comments More On * Christmas * Christmas Presents * Stress * Christmas shopping * lifestyle * all * Most Read * Most Recent [CS74311024.jpg] FacebookIrish parents left fuming at faults with must-have Hatchimal Christmas toy “I have a 7-year-old who now thinks Santa thinks she’s been bad and sent her one that doesn’t hatch” [CS74311024.jpg] Family"I just want my Lego": Disabled boy, 11, humiliated when Poundland refused to accept his small change for a £1 toy Liam Townsend told his legal guardian after being left upset in the discount store: "I just want my Lego" [CS74311024.jpg] DatingGlobal dating website expects surge in young Irish women seeking rich 'sugar daddies' Relationships forged on the website can involve trading money, travel, gifts and student fees, for company [CS74311024.jpg] St Stephen's DaySt Stephen's Day sales 2016: The best deals and bargains from all the major retailers revealed St Stephen's Day sales have been overshadowed by Black Friday in November in recent years [CS74311024.jpg] CancerBrave teenager on preparing for the Leaving Certificate after battling cancer Chloe Boyle was diagnosed with bone cancer in 2012 [CS74311024.jpg] DublinVideo of son acting the pup on Christmas Day to stress out Dublin mammy is gas This was surely happening all over the country on Christmas morning [CS74311024.jpg] DonegalWatch as Co Donegal dad is left speechless with thoughtful Christmas gift from son Gareth Hegarty doesn’t believe in giving ‘minor’ Christmas presents [CS74311024.jpg] TescoTesco Mobile Ireland has launched its winter sale and is offering a FREE iPhone The New Year is the perfect time to rethink phone providers and consider switching to a new, cheaper network [CS74311024.jpg] WexfordCo Wexford granny's attempts to play 'Jibber Jabber' are absolutely hilarious Her family are ROARING laughing in the background [CS74311024.jpg] January salesFive fab holiday ideas for 2017 to beat back the January blues Christmas might be over but your next adventure could be just around the corner * Most Read * Most Recent [CS74311024.jpg] FacebookIrish parents left fuming at faults with must-have Hatchimal Christmas toy “I have a 7-year-old who now thinks Santa thinks she’s been bad and sent her one that doesn’t hatch” [CS74311024.jpg] NewsTragic death of seven-month-old sparks probe into bunk bed firm Bespoke bunk bed manufacturer Playtime Beds is being investigated following the tragic death of a seven-month-old in York [CS74311024.jpg] World NewsGirl kidnapped after opening Christmas presents sexually abused and abandoned in woods next to fiend's dead body The man police think was responsible for leaving the girl badly injured in the wood was found dead at the scene after apparently committing suicide [CS74311024.jpg] NewsDad 'beaten, paraded and left to die in puddle' on Christmas Day as police hunt bodybuilder killer Tommy Roberts, 43, had his head "repeatedly smashed off the ground" during the "sickening" assault on Sunday, it is claimed [CS74311024.jpg] George MichaelGeorge Michael dead: Bono asked Geri Halliwell how he could help troubled singer The pair collaborated on Bob Geldof's charity single Do They Know It's Christmas? in 1984 [CS74311024.jpg] An Garda SiochanaEx-TD 'pepper-sprayed' before arrest outside home Gardai have confirmed they are investigating an incident [CS74311024.jpg] Taylor SwiftTaylor Swift pays World War Two hero a surprise visit as a special Christmas present The 27-year-old singer turned up unexpectedly at Cyrus Porter’s home in Missouri on Monday, after he attracted attention for watching Taylor in concert [CS74311024.jpg] Alexis SanchezWatch hilarious moment a confused Alexis Sanchez asks who Ilkay Gundogan is during Manchester City tribute Who are ya? 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