Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and it is also the unofficial start of the holiday season here in the US.
Why The Holidays Can Be Stressful
We think of the holidays as the most wonderful time of the year, but holidays are also stressful.
The holidays can bring about financial pressures, unrealistic expectations, and too many commitments.
Family gatherings can also be stressful as we gather with family members that we may not get along with.
For many people just thinking about the holidays can bring on bouts of anxiety and depression.
We are encouraged to be happy at this time of year, but that happiness pressure can actually contribute to making us more unhappy.
Tips To Survive The Holidays
- Be Good To Yourself. I made this #1 because I think this is the most important. Too often we are thinking about the happiness of everyone else and we forget about ourselves. Be there for yourself.
- Maintain Your Routine. Doing this as much as possible will help to normalize the few weeks of the holidays. So if you normally exercise keep it up. You will feel better for doing so.
- Reach Out To Family And Friends. This is a two-fold tip. Connect with people you love and miss that you will not be seeing this year. Your love and support can help them and in turn, they can offer you love and support.
- Stop Feeling Guilty. Do you really know anyone who can do it all? You may think they can, but at what cost to themselves. You do not have to be a superpower.
- Just Say No. I talked about saying no in this previous post. Once again, you do not have to be a superwoman. It is perfectly okay to say no.
- Focus on The Here And Now. So many of us look back at earlier holidays with rose-colored glasses and this leads to unrealistic expectations. Focus on who you are now and how you want this holiday season to be.
As you prepare and gather for the holidays this year my wish is good health and happiness for all of you.
Self Care
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All great tips Laura. Sometimes it is so hard not to want to do everything at this time of year and to get stressed out. I start things early to keep that stress down and to have more time to enjoy the holidays. Happy Thanksgiving. xoxo
ReplyDeleteGood tips, Laura. Especially for those who've lost a companion this past year and dread the holidays. As you know, I don't enjoy the hustle and bustle of the gathering of people. So I shall stay home with my kitties.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Be good to yourself...I think I've got this one! hahaha! But I don't stress like I used to. I had lots of big Thanksgivings in the past and now I'm happy to have a stress free day. Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteA friend and I were just talking about this very topic earlier this evening. She said she was feeling a little sad this time of year and I told her she wasn't alone. Social media makes it seem like everyone is having - or should have - everything perfect. And most of the time, it's far from that. Your tips are helpful, thank you. And happy Thanksgiving to you!
ReplyDeleteGreat tips, Laura, especially "be good to yourself." That's an easy one to forget. Wishing you good health and happiness this holiday season, too, Laura! Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteSpeak to my heart, Laura, these are all such great tips and advice. I have no idea why being good to yourself is such a hard one, especially, since we're so good to everyone else. Love how you speak truth into our lives. We definitely need to hear it! Hugs and thank yous, CoCo
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