It's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of these busy weeks leading into the holidays so be sure to take time out to think about what the season means to you and what you want it to mean to your family.
Here are a few ideas to help keep that holiday stress in perspective:
Take a few minutes each day to reflect on yourself and your family. What can you do to make this the best holiday season ever? I'm not talking about spending money or purchasing anything for that matter. What I'm talking about is "what can you do to make family time even better" right now.Take an extra 15-30 minutes each evening to have a discussion with your spouse, kids, loved ones. Ask about their day; tell them about your day. Ask open ended questions so that you get more than a yes or no answer. Have an actual discussion! Here are a few examples to get you started:
- What happened today that was surprising?
- What was the best part of your day?
- What wasn't so great today?
- How can tomorrow be better?
- What are you most excited about for the holidays?
Having these conversations is a great way to establish that connection so many people desire, especially during the holidays when everyone is so busy. Take time out for those that you love.
Our time is precious, especially now. We can easily get overwhelmed with all the demands on our time so whether it's volunteering or just too many parties to attend, remember that it's okay to say no.Reconnect with those that are important to us. If it's been awhile since you've been in touch with someone, send a card, an e-mail or just pick up the phone. The holidays are a wonderful time to reconnect with those we've lost touch with.If we feel the stress of it all becoming too much, take time out for yourself! If you need to go to your room for some quiet reflection, take a walk to get some fresh air or talk to a friend just to vent, do it. We are not helping our families if we are not taking care of ourselves. By taking care of ourselves, we are also teaching our children that self care is important too.
Once we get through the holidays then we can start thinking about the New Year. Don't stress about that before you need to. It's a whole new year coming so be sure to keep your stress levels low and you will be off to a great start to the New Year!
Tammy Potosky (Teen Coach Tammy) is a teen and parenting life coach and learning professional. She works with teens and young adults empowering them to make better choices and live successful lives. Her mission is to: help teens feel more comfortable with themselves and to get along better with friends and others; assist in identifying their life goals and direction; prepare young adults to have the life skills needed to achieve their goals in life; and for parents to help maintain balance and enjoy life with their teens and all life has to offer. Tammy helps her clients achieve these results through one-on-one coaching, group coaching and workshops. For more information please visit http://www.teencoachtammy.com/.
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