You need not use traditional holiday colors or symbols for decorating (unless they bring you joy, of course). Pick colors that reframing holidays in early recovery give you a sense of happiness peace, safety, lightness or calm. If you find yourself triggered by certain activities or interactions, do your best to replace them with emotionally fulfilling ones.
Celebrating the Holidays Mindfully
- Numerous studies show gratitude increases happiness, well-being, and boosts those feel-good endorphins like dopamine and serotonin.
- Having no expectations is equally unrealistic and conveys that others don’t need to think about you, which can lead to disappointment.
- I emphasize this because oftentimes in the boundary-design process we have a general idea of the boundary we wish to maintain and decide that we do not need to communicate them to the other person(s).
- Don’t let an attractive price persuade you to buy something you’re on the fence about.
- Knowing what is valuable to you opens the doorway for compassion through learning what is important to those around you.
Share your intentions and needs and be clear about your boundaries and why they are important to you. Honest conversations can prevent misunderstandings and conflicts, and your loved ones are more likely to respect your wishes if they understand your perspective.
Go in on a group gift
- With so much outside of our control, the changes that have come as a result of COVID-19 are not only frustrating for adults, but also for the kids in our lives.
- At the end of the conversation, you should have a list of traditions you will engage in this season, with both partners’ desires being represented (although it doesn’t have to be equally).
- Attempts to modify traditions can be viewed as an attack on or rebuff of the family.
- Pooling resources with family or friends can ease the financial burden on everyone and ensure the recipient still gets a gift.
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- Sticking with your game plan is important for your relational health and establishing healthy boundaries with your families of origin.
When setting your priorities, it’s important to consider what brings you joy. Perhaps it’s good food, connecting with friends or being outdoors. You can achieve all those things in one day, but you need to plan. Time is our most precious commodity, not just for task efficiency but also for joy. Most people think time management is about accomplishing more, but it is really about learning to set priorities, attain your objectives, and experience joy in life. The holiday break is usually an exciting time off to spend as you please.
Bring Awareness to Your Emotions As a Family
News, insights and events delivered to your inbox each weekday morning. As you get better at managing your time, it may become challenging to plan and engage with someone without the same skills, but it is still possible. The first step is determining the reason for the resistance. If the activity is important to you, but you’re lacking energy or motivation, it may be helpful to use a strategy to help you follow through.
Carve out time in your holiday schedule to reflect.
There will always be factors that are beyond your control, but you don’t have to be a victim of the season. With some shift in your thinking and attitude, it’s possible to let go of the blues and overcome stress. You can turn this time of year into a more pleasant and happy occasion. Below are nine keys to being more resilient during the holidays.
In fact, married individuals often report uncertainty about how to balance time between their family of origin and family-in-law, especially when it comes to holiday celebrations1. Even though we’re about to enter the happiest and most celebrated time of the year, it can also bring out heightened emotions in both adults and children. Rather than worrying or stressing about the future, setting expectations can also help you be a present parent. Are you excited about seeing loved ones and celebrating family traditions? Are you feeling anxious about everything you have to get done? For many, they increase stress (to-dos, gatherings, gift giving).
