Download - 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