
Retired women’s healthcare entrepreneur and self-care author Marla Ahlgrimm spent four decades helping women master their own health. She says that it’s been her experience that women notice and experience stress more than men in November and December.
But why?
According to Marla Ahlgrimm, there are many different reasons that women feel more stress and strain over the holidays. One is additional family responsibilities. Although men were, historically, the hunters and gatherers, that role has switched to women, who tend to be the ones to grocery shop. Further, women are expected to create a beautiful spread around the holidays. Even those who don’t host at home are expected to bring beautiful dishes to each gathering, says Marla Ahlgrimm.
Money is another matter of concern for women around Christmas. The average family spends between $800 and $1000 on Christmas gifts. Marla Ahlgrimm acknowledges that this might be a small sum for many families, but, for others, it can be a huge strain on their savings or, worse, credit cards.