It’s that wonderful time of the year; the holidays are here! You know the ones I mean, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s, in other words, STRESS!!!! Many of the individuals I work with say they “hate” this time of year and find no joy during it because of the stress that accompanies it. But why? What causes so much stress, and can anything be done about it? Some would say no, it is what it is. But I disagree. We are the creators of the world we live in, and we can absolutely change it.
How might you ask? It’s about expectations of ourselves and others, setting limits or boundaries, and doing good self-care. Unfortunately, so many people don’t know how to do this or are afraid of doing this because they will upset someone, for example, parents, in-laws, siblings, children, friends, or partners.
Social media is another issue; it used to be “keep up with the Joneses” in spending (though this is still present and an article for another day), but now it is trying to “keep up with the Joneses” via social media. There is a link between depression and overuse of social media. I can just hear you saying, “but Lisa, all my friends have these great pictures of their families, and I want to be like them.” News flash: People aren't always as happy as they look in photos. Or maybe you caught them in a moment of time when they were happy, but no one lives that way all the time. This need to “look” happy and healthy is creating a new level of stress and has become a virtual epidemic. We are no longer just trying to keep up with friends, but with celebrities or influences. Again, the expectations are too high.
During November, I'll be providing tips and skills to help you manage the stress of the holidays. I'll teach you how to set expectations and boundaries, how to avoid conflict directly or address it appropriately, and finally, take a look at your own self-care and be willing to invest in yourself for once. After all, the holidays should be about creating memories, not stress.
Blog written by:
Lisa Anderson
Owner of A Healing Place