Alicia González, psychologist: “Identifying our own limits helps us to be better prepared for Christmas”

Returning home for Christmas is one of the country’s great traditions and also one of the most emotionally charged. Every December, millions of people travel back to their hometowns to reunite with family and friends. Yet while the joy of reunion is often celebrated, the other side of this season is rarely discussed. Stress, nostalgia, exhaustion, and family pressures can turn a long-awaited moment into a genuine emotional challenge.

To better understand this reality, OUIGO, in collaboration with IPSOS Digital, conducted an opinion poll among residents of Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, and Malaga. The aim was to answer a question as simple as it is revealing: how does returning home for Christmas really affect us? The study sheds light on a frequently overlooked phenomenon that is very present during this time of year: the so-called “return home syndrome”, which already affects 7 out of 10 Spaniards, many of whom feel the need to mentally prepare themselves before going home for Christmas.

According to the study, around 75% of respondents will return home this Christmas. For 36% of them, the journey is more than just a commute. It becomes a moment to process emotions, recharge, and prepare for what lies ahead. In line with this trend, the company expects a significant rise in passengers during the festive period, with approximately 650,000 people travelling between its destinations.

Patri, psychologist, writer, and speaker, explains: “From a psychological perspective, returning home for Christmas activates multiple emotional layers. It is not only about positive feelings. Stress, accumulated fatigue, nostalgia for those who have been away, or pressure to meet family expectations can also surface, among other factors.”

“Each generation, shaped by its own circumstances, experiences this process differently. Identifying these emotions is essential to managing them properly and making this time of year more conscious and balanced,” she adds.

The study confirms that the Christmas journey is far more than simple travel. It is an experience full of mixed emotions. Although the season is usually associated with joy, the data shows a more complex picture: 44% of travellers feel nostalgia, 11% feel stressed, and 8% feel overwhelmed.

Clear generational patterns emerge. Stress and anxiety increase progressively with age. The main sources of stress are absences or losses, cited by 39% of respondents, especially among older people and in Madrid and Valencia. Travel costs and organisation are a major concern for 37% of respondents in Barcelona, while 24% mention lack of rest due to disrupted routines, particularly in other provinces.

Christmas is therefore a time of both celebration and fatigue. In fact, 67% of those surveyed say they need to prepare themselves mentally before returning home for Christmas, with Valencia standing out as the city where this need is greatest. Interest in emotional support is also growing, as three out of four Spaniards would be open to speaking with a psychologist during their journey.

After the holidays, 19% say they feel they “need a holiday after the holiday”. Residents of Madrid are the most relieved to return to their routines, while those in Barcelona report feeling the most exhausted once the festive period ends.

Meanwhile, 29% already discuss the emotional impact of Christmas in therapy or would be willing to do so. A 23-point generational gap separates younger and older respondents in their openness to emotional support. Overall, the study shows that the experience of returning home varies significantly by age and generation, while differences between cities are less pronounced.

Psychologist Alicia González, a specialist in couple and family therapy, explains: “At this time of year, many people feel they should experience Christmas in a certain way, when in reality the healthiest approach is to pay attention to how we truly feel. Acknowledging tiredness, tension, or excitement without imposing expectations, and recognising our own limits, such as how much we can give, how much rest we need, and how much personal space we require, helps us feel more prepared and experience reunions in a calmer and more sustainable way.”

The study also highlights notable age differences. Young people aged 18 to 24 show less intention of returning home for Christmas, often preferring to make plans with friends. However, they are the group that feels the most sadness at the end of the holidays, with nostalgia as the dominant emotion. They also stand out for their need for mental preparation before family reunions and their sensitivity to social comparisons related to relationships, work, or children.

Among those aged 25 to 30, excitement and joy are more prevalent, although this group also feels greater pressure linked to family expectations and shows a high openness to seeking psychological support. Adults aged 31 to 35 tend to experience Christmas with more emotional balance and remain receptive to professional support. From the age of 36 onwards, fatigue and stress increase, peaking between 41 and 50, the most overwhelmed age group, yet also the least willing to ask for help.

Based on these findings, and with the aim of making the Christmas return journey more manageable, OUIGO is launching Happy Returns. This initiative offers travellers practical advice from professional psychologists to help make their journey home more comfortable and enjoyable aboard its high-speed trains. On 17, 18, 22, and 23 December, passengers travelling between Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, and Malaga will be able to attend exclusive talks led by a team of psychologists, including Patri and Alicia González.

Travellers with tickets for these dates will receive an email invitation to register and select an available time slot during their journey. The initiative encourages those returning home for Christmas to pause and reflect, helping them approach the holidays with greater calm and emotional clarity. By highlighting a rarely discussed reality, Happy Returns underlines the importance of emotional wellbeing and transforms the journey itself into a space for relief and tranquillity amid the Christmas rush.

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