As I have mentioned earlier the holidays are about friends, family and loved ones. What I haven’t mentioned, until now, is that spending time with friends, family and loved ones can be very stressful!
Some way to keep stress down while spending time with family:
– take time out for yourself to relax, read, hike, watch movies, social media toys or whatever rituals you find time for, that are relaxing and enjoyable the other 51 weeks of the year.
– if you are in a relationship and/or have children with you – take time out with them to make memories within the dynamics of your holiday gathering.
– spend some one-on-one time with your family members or friends, it can create closeness and bonding and may even alleviate some stress or tension.
Family dynamics and holidays can be a very complex concept – try being patient, take care of yourself, choose your battles, and stay as stress-free and relaxed as possible. Practice making the choice to enjoy the holidays and family….remember, it’s only for a couple of days.
Lisa Beilman is an Orlando Counselor who practices No Judgement Counseling and specializes in Facebook counseling, stress management, career counseling, couples counseling, conflict resolution, elder counseling and family counseling.