Ho, Ho, No! 5 dyslexic challenges we’d consign to Christmas past…

Whether you love Christmas or feel like a Scrooge, admit it— those festive jingles made you feel a bit lighter logging into Teams this week. It’s almost time to set your out-of-office and relax…

But for those with dyslexia, Christmas might not be the relaxing break we imagine. The season brings pressure, admin tasks, and changes to routine, which can be frustrating when everything is supposed to be festive and carefree.

So indulge us as we vent about the holiday hassles we’d happily leave in the past! We’ll start with ⬇️

Christmas card drama

Unfortunately, Auntie Margaret has called your mum complaining she hasn’t received her card yet… so now you’ve got a sinking feeling that there might have been spelling errors in those painstakingly handwritten addresses.

Although it’s a festive staple, writing Christmas cards and addressing parcels can be stressful for many people whose dyslexia impacts their reading and writing. Some use an online card-mailer system like Moonpig or Cardly, so that their screen reader can step in to support… but couldn’t we just call instead?

Transport chaos

Many of us travel to see loved ones over the festive period, and dyslexia can complicate that when it impacts your sequencing and organisational skills.

Replacement buses, station switches and crowds can cause delays and the need for quick changes, and can make even your usual office train or festive drive to your parents’ house feel stressful. Taxi!

Burnout

Volume increases in December in so many sectors and everyone’s in a rush to get their deliverables… well, delivered. This can increase any dyslexic colleague’s risk of burnout, especially if you’re already feeling the strain of doing the day-to-day with reading, writing or organisational differences.

Make sure you advocate for your needs, negotiate realistic deadlines, and take breaks. Your mental health is just as important as that project— and can we ban Christmas Eve deadlines yet?

Urgh.

Complicated board games

Is it just us, or does every board game these days seem to have a list of rules longer than Lord of the Rings? We know dyslexia can compromise instruction-reading and information retention for some people, but sequencing and gameplay tasks can also be impacted, making some post-turkey board game sessions feel like hard work.

 How about charades, to keep it visual?

 (Or even a festive snooze?)

The annual sensory nightmare

Somebody’s put fairy lights up in the office, and they’re flashing. It’s busier than usual because it’s crunch period, and whilst the radio has been on Christmas FM for two months now, it’s got louder. Somebody’s singing.

…Which, to be honest, would all be fine if you weren’t struggling to get your head around a set of reports. But it’s loud and distracting in here, and your text-to-speech volume only goes so high. Our Christmas wish for 2024 might be five minutes of Peace on Earth to send an email, thanks.

But seasonal grumpiness aside…

Many dyslexic folks love Christmas. We're just having some fun here, but these grumbles are legitimate: being neurodivergent can make things feel exhausting and isolating sometimes, especially when everyone else seems to embrace the seasonal changes.

This year, we wish you a restful, accessible, and merry festive season— because everyone deserves a real break. May your reading pen be charged, your cooking instructions accessible, and your travel plans on time.

And don’t forget to share your own Christmas grumbles in the comments below, too ⬇️

We’ll see you in the New Year!