DECEMBER. NEW MONTH. THE CHRISTMAS SEASON.
This morning I sit with my coffee reflecting on what time of year this means to me, what it means to my family, what it could mean to others and what it should ULTIMATELY mean.
Let’s be REAL about this from the start…..CHRISTMAS is a stressful time of year.
WHETHER or not you have loved ones near;
WHETHER or not you have a secure means of financing gift-giving;
WHETHER or not you have to balance work schedule during the ‘traditional” Christmas break.
IF you are an adult, this most wonderful time of the year is unfortunately stressful for many.
*Christmas Parties
*Pressure of Hosting & Entertaining
*Christmas Shopping
*Costs of Christmas
*Dealing with High Expectations
*Pressure to Find ‘the’ Perfect Gift
*Loneliness
We ALL can relate to all or some of these stressors.
How do you deal with the exhaustion and stress at this time of year? Below are some tips from Psychology Today “Holiday Stress”—
* Set Clear Boundaries – You don’t have to spend the holidays the way someone else wants you too. Trying to live up to someone else’s expectations is a major cause of holiday related stress.
* Establish Reasonable Expectations – You have a life outside of the Festive Season, and your Christmas doesn’t have to be perfect. No one’s is.
* Don’t Over-Spend – Gift giving is fun and exciting BUT who wants to start the new year off in debt? Make a budget and STICK TO IT!
* Forgive Yourself – Before you can be happy at ANY time of the year, you need to be able to accept yourself. Don’t force yourself to live up to others expectations or cling to perfection.
* Honor Your Own Traditions – Best ways to end holiday related sadness is to create your own NEW traditions!
* Seek Help – Therapy can always offer help dealing with feelings of over-whelm, stress and depression. You don’t need to ‘technically meet’ the criteria for a mental health diagnosis.
AND……. ALITTLE SELF-CARE.
SELF-CARE means giving yourself permission to pause.
SELF-CARE is simply taking a moment for you today. It doesn’t need to be anything more than that.