Dealing with Holiday Stress

Presented by:LifeServices EAP

Dealing with Holiday Stress

Identify the origins of holiday stress and holiday “blues”

Identify ways holiday stress is different from other kinds of stress

Understand ways to develop and practice sound attitudes

Benefits of the EAP

Seminar Goals

Origins of Holiday Stress and the Holiday Blues

Holiday stress is real and very common Change and Choices Attitudes

Overview

Can’t recreate the past Can’t have perfect holidays Letting go of unrealistic fantasies

Application—One thing I feel today as the holidays are approaching is:

1. Unrealistic expectations (may need to lower them)

Give yourself permission Common feelings-loss, sadness due to such

things as divorce, deaths, separations

Application—One thing I feel today as the holidays are approaching is:

2. Acknowledge and express feelings honestly

Invite others to get together Be proactive, not reactive

Application—One friend or group I could get together with is:

3. If you’re an isolator, keep busy!

May be too stressful or time-consuming?!

Application—One “tradition” I may need to give up is:

4. Re-evaluate your traditions

Reduce the amount of time you plan to spend with difficult family members.

Don’t expect family problems to disappear just because it’s the holiday season.

Balance your own needs with your family’s needs Let go of past conflicts, resentments, and learn to

forgive.

Application—One Positive family member or friend I will spend time with is:

5. Develop common family goals

Take quiet times to be rejuvenated Eliminate stressful or unnecessary activities and

chores

Application—One activity I can abandon is:

6. Prepare for extra intensity

Do something special for yourself

Application—One thing I will do for myself is:

7. Nurture yourself

Go to a place where you can find support and encouragement

Do for others, with time, or gifts, volunteer

Application—One activity I will do for _________ is:

8. Struggles of loneliness or loss

Eat, drink, and SPEND in moderation Non-alcoholic drinks

More exercise Watch those chocolates

Events without food

Application—One way I will exercise is to _____________ for 10 minutes each day.

9. Be careful about over-indulging

Beware of excessive commercialism

Application—I will remind myself of the importance of ________________ this year.

10. Remind yourself of the true meaning of the holidays.

Attitudes-”Why is it that I MUST have?”: (fill in the item, event, tradition, or setting)

Application—I’ll probably be a lot happier if I change my attitude about:

11. Re-evaluate your Attitudes

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Benefits of LifeServices EAP