Top 9 Ways To Reduce Holiday Stress, Number 1
Since it is that time of year again, I thought I would offer some helpful tips to reduce the stress that inevitably comes with the holiday season. The pressure of being surrounded by family (even if your family normally gets along well), the presents, the food, the New Year’s Resolutions…they can all add up and take their toll on your mental well-being. I will offer one tip per day over the next nine days, and I hope you find them helpful. Here is the first one: 1. Try actually talking to your family. As we learned from yesterday’s post, verbalizing your feelings can lead to a decrease in negative emotions. For that reason alone, it can be helpful to talk about your holidy blues with family members. It can also be important for them to understand why you are upset about whatever it is that is bothering you. They can’t read your mind, and as obvious as you think the problem is, others may not see it. If you get angry every year because your family assumes you will be cooking dinner for all 25 of them on Christmas Day, tell them so. They are probably not purposefully making you mad–they might just see the dinner at your house to be a nice family tradition. If you let them know, in a kind way, that you feel they are taking advantage of you and you need a break this year, chances are that they will respond well. At the very least, you will make them aware of your feelings and that will ease some of your holiday stress. In other news, I am heading out to the Denver County Jail this morning to do an evaluation. I need to look at my notes before I go, but I think I remember this being an attempted murder case. With that said, I am debating about what Reducing Holiday Stress Tip #2 should be. I am thinking either: Find Quiet Time For Yourself, or Don’t Spend Time with Those Accused of Attempted Murder. Check back tomorrow to see which one I’ve chosen to write about. Thanks for reading– Max Wachtel, Ph.D. (www.CherryCreekPsychology.com)
