Illustration of a girl stressed due to holiday shopping As Deloitte, PwC, and Accenture holiday shopping reports warn of record cognitive stress and rising indecision this holiday season, clinicians explain why constant decision-making drains the brain, and what can be done to support it. November 17, 2025. Three of the world’s leading consultancies, Deloitte, PwC, and Accenture, have recently released reports on holiday shopping. They highlight record levels of cognitive stress and rising indecision as key features of the coming season. Clinicians warn that, beyond budget tightening and economic instability, this is leading us to a global cognitive burnout. All three reports represent different sides of holiday shopping struggles. Deloitte’s Holiday Retail…