Managing
Your
Holiday Stress
WORDS: Cassie L. D’Addeo, M.S., LMFT
Psychotherapist/Owner of Green Couch Counseling, LLC
’Tis the season for shopping, parties, holiday cookies, and
unfortunately holiday stress. Managing holiday stress is the
simple tips to help keep the stress levels at bay.
Stick to the budget:
to the family budget.” As a family, decide upon the appropriate
amount of money the family should be spending this holiday season
on gifts, food, and travel. This may mean that your child may not
get the toy or gadget he or she requested this year. Just like we
set other healthy boundaries with our children, it is okay to set
Do not overschedule your family:
An overbooked family schedule can cause unwanted stress to
the family. Learning to say “no” to events that are not important to
you, gives you the time to engage in activities that
your family will enjoy. It is suggested that one
activity or event per day is plenty, especially if
you have young school aged children. Rested
and happy children make family outings much
more enjoyable for the whole family system.
Parents need a “time out” too:
Parents are human too! Despite feeling like an
overworked machine during the holiday season, it is
important to give yourself a break from the hustle and bustle
and allow yourself to relax. Whether it is your daily workout at
just for you and enjoy. Children mirror their parents’ emotional
state. If the parent or guardian is feeling relaxed and calm,
children are most likely to display similar emotional regulation
during the holidays.
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