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Festive fatigue shatters grandparents

31st December 2014 Print

Grandparents may be glad the Christmas period is coming to an end, with new research showing one in six (16%) grandparents over the age of 50 admit their grandchildren have left them feeling exhausted over the festive season. 

It seems the pressure to meet the demands of the family over the Christmas period is the primary factor, with 15 per cent of those surveyed by drug-free joint pain treatment brand FLEXISEQ spending between five and six hours playing with their grandchildren, and an additional 14 per cent stating they did all of the work on Christmas day.

It’s little wonder grandparents were left so shattered – with one in five (20%) of those surveyed admitting to doing all of the cooking on Christmas Day and nearly one in ten (eight per cent) wishing their children had hosted instead. 

Nearly one in ten (eight per cent) having fallen ill as a result of drinking too much over Christmas. Five per cent have used illness or injury as an excuse not to see their family over the festive season, while around four per cent of grandparents used the same reasons for avoiding Christmas shopping. 

Dr Chris Steele MBE, resident doctor on ITV’s This Morning, comments, “This research is somewhat eye opening and shows that, while Christmas is seen by many as an opportunity to put your feet up and relax, it can be a stressful time for some. 

“I have grandchildren myself and know they can be a handful, so for those grandparents who might be feeling the strain from the festive period, now is the time to focus on making the right lifestyle choices to ensure they go into the New Year feeling refreshed and rested.”