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Happy Holidays: Families and Complications
As our families get more complicated, so do the holidays. Most modern families no longer consist of Mom, Dad, 2.5 kids, and one or two adoring grandparents. Instead, you’re dealing with ex-spouses, their new partners, and a mix of children, step-children, and various half-brothers and sisters. With that, a lot of complications get added to your already busy holiday schedule. While each blended family is different, there are some things you can do to simplify the situation and make sure everyone involved gets to enjoy the holidays. Here are three ground rules that have served us well when dealing with these compliction. Find Common Ground When Faced with Complications No matter how strained…
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Stress Primer 101
Happy Monday! I have spent a lot of time over the past couple of weeks discussing how to manage your holiday stress. But I thought it would be good to have a stress primer about stress in general. Don’t worry – I have another post planned that looks at mindfulness and stress coming up soon. Stress and the Body Due to the hectic pace of modern life, it has become increasingly difficult to avoid stressful situations in and out of the home. Common sources of stress include financial hardships, issues at work, unsuccessful relationships, and familial obligations. Individuals from all stages of life experience stress to varying degrees. However, while…
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Journaling to Relieve Stress
Stress comes in many forms — especially during the holiday season. Likewise, stress relief can come in many forms. Some people turn to physical activity for stress relief. Others want something less strenuous. Journaling is a great way to relieve stress at any time. By putting your thoughts and feelings on paper, you provide yourself with a tremendous opportunity for self-reflection. Thinking about your problems or concerns is different from giving those issues physical space. When you see how you’re thinking, you may look at the problem differently. This may make the holiday season a little more pleasant. Here are a few reasons why you should journal to relieve stress:…
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8 Tips To Better Handle Holiday Stress
How is the holiday season treating you so far? The holiday season is an opportunity to spend time with family and friends, to take some time off work, or even escape for a winter getaway. For all the joy and fun, though, so comes the holiday stress. The expectations of social events, gift shopping, and entertaining guests can become too much for even the most festive folks. In fact, according to the American Psychological Association, people in the United States are more likely to experience an increase in stress over the holiday season. And on top of that, women tend to stress more and are less likely to manage this…
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How to Throw a Stress-Free Holiday Event
Many women and men stress when they have to plan and host a holiday event, such as a dinner or party. I typically don’t plan these types of functions anymore. But it can be a tough gig even when planning in a group! It can be difficult to find the time it takes to get ready for these holiday events when you’re already pressed for time on a normal day! But it has to get done, right? Since this is the holiday party season, here are some tips to help you streamline this process (if you haven’t already made your plans): 1. Plan Your Party Early Start planning for these events…
