Aurora EAP wants to help you enjoy a frequently frantic time of year. Here are 10 tips that could reduce stress or otherwise make life a little easier:
- Anticipate potential holiday stressors. Plan ahead in order to balance demands on your time, energy, budget, or patience.
- Set realistic goals. Ask yourself if your expectations of yourself are reasonable. If they aren’t, readjust your goals and proceed with holiday plans that are reasonable and enjoyable.
- Redefine your sense of family. If your family is distant (physically or emotionally), consider celebrating the holidays with your “family of choice” — friends, loved ones, co-workers. Consider volunteering at this very special time of the year.
- Delegate holiday preparation tasks to other family members or plan potluck style gatherings rather than elaborate holiday parties.
- Learn to say “no” to overwhelming demands.
- Relax your standards. Finding the “perfect” gift or planning and holding the “perfect” holiday party is unnecessary, unrealistic, unfair to yourself, and stress-inducing.
- Consider reducing the emphasis on gifts. Consider exchanging homemade gifts and focus on spending time with family and friends, not just gift giving. If you do decide to buy gifts, set a budget and stick to it.
- Set limits on your food and alcohol consumption at holiday gatherings. If you choose to drink, drink wisely and use designated drivers.
- Take time to relax. Use deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, time management, and a really good laugh to help relieve the stress you experience, both during the holidays and year-round.
- Reach out. While the holiday season has a reputation for being joyous and full of love, it can be a very difficult time for many people.
If you are experiencing difficulties, talk to friends, family, and others who are supportive of you. And remember that your EAP is also available to help at 1-800-236-3231.