3 Ways to De-stress Around Your Family During the Holidays
The holidays can be a stressful time for everyone. Depending on your family situation, it can be exciting and aggravating during the holidays to be thrust into spending an extended period of time with family members. It is important to have things in place to help with taking a break from family when you are feeling overwhelmed by all the togetherness. By de-stressing around family, it can help the holidays and family time be more enjoyable overall.
There are various different things which can help us de-stress in our daily lives. Here are three of the best ways to de-stress around family during the holidays:
Set Boundaries
It is essential to set boundaries with yourself and your family. Reflect on what you need to feel safe and joyful this holiday season. Do you need time alone? Do you function better with one-on-one time with some family members instead of them all at once? Once you have an idea of what is going to be best, it is time to be assertive and let others know your boundaries or limits. Make time to have an active and transparent conversation with your family about these boundaries and limits. When you are transparent about them, more often than not, you will receive the support and time you need.
Sometimes, family dynamics or situations are more difficult than others. This means even though you are being assertive and transparent, they might not respect your boundaries. In these situations it is okay to says no, I cannot or will not do that because it is overwhelming. As long as you have options in place and a positive mindset holiday family time can be extremely bearable.
Take Time for Yourself
Self-care is important in our daily lives. It is just as important during the holiday season. Set aside some time to be alone or away from family. This could be as simple as leaving the room and allow yourself to breathe. Enjoy a good book or take some extra time in bed or the bathroom before spending time with everyone. If you know about gym or classes close by grab a pass or pay the fee to take an exercise class like yoga to release some tension and enjoy time to yourself.
Another part of self-care is having plans set up for once you return home from time with your family. Give yourself something to look forward to when you return. Ask yourself, what is an activity that will be refreshing and rejuvenating? It could be having dinner with friends, a spa day, or alone time all cozy on the couch watching movies.
Check-in with a Friend
Whether it is a trusted friend, someone part of your chosen family, or a therapist, reach out for support. Give them a heads up you may need to check-in with them while you are staying with your family. Knowing you have that call or text available could help you feel less overwhelmed in the situation. Furthermore, if you have friends close by to your family festivities make time to meet up with them as a way to break-up all the family time.
Ultimately, these tips can help make what feels like the busiest time of year a more enjoyable experience for you and everyone around you. Allow yourself to be open to yourself and family about your feelings or concerns. This is the ideal course of action in situations where you may feel overwhelmed. Remember others may not always respond to how you would like to what you are sharing with them, yet you are courageous and strong in taking care of yourself during the holidays.
DISCLAIMER: This blog is a blog written and edited by Allison Bozovsky, LMFT. As the owner of this blog, this is a tool to share my own thoughts, feelings, and expertise on social sciences for informational purposes only. The information is no reflection of my current employer. It is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or therapeutic services.