Holiday Gathering Anxieties
The holiday is here and it can either be a wonderful time of the year or the anxiety-causing event of the year for you.
You love your family. You are grateful for many things. But this time of the year can cause a lot of stress for most people. You are not alone!!!
Not everyone loves to be around so many people.
Not everyone loves to go out and about.
Not everyone loves to party.
Not everyone is an extrovert.
Not everyone is excited about family gatherings or friends gathering.
People, loved ones, friends, family and you have to respect what YOU want.
Reflect on what brings you joy during the holidays. Then honor that feeling. Respect that feeling.
Honoring yourself and what you want can help relieve stress and anxiety. Being intentional will help you create a day that you want, and not feel like you are being swept away by life and you feel out of control.
Here are some boundary tricks & tips for the holidays:
- PAUSE – when you wake up, take a moment to pause before you get out of bed and be grateful.
- BE INTENTIONAL – visualize how you want the day to be.
- BREATHE – take a deep breath, hold it for a second and exhale longer than your inhale.
- DON’T OVER COMMIT – you don’t have to go to ALL the gatherings. Say NO, politely and create quality time with the people you prioritize.
- YOU DON’T HAVE TO STAY FOR HOURS – give yourself a maximum time at a gathering. No one told you that you have to stay there from the beginning until they start cleaning up.
- COMMUNICATE YOUR NEEDS – talk to your significant other or your loved ones that you need more time to rest, be alone, rejuvenate or limited time with other people.
- CREATE BOUNDARIES – be consistent with the changes you have made for yourself. People will not like the new you and they will try their best to hook you right back to their own agenda. Be consistent.
- RESPECT YOURSELF – accept who you are and love who you are. Either you are changing to better yourself, not for others or you want to be more joyful and fulfilled, you have to stick to your guns and prioritize yourself. When we respect ourselves, others will do the same.
- QUALITY TIME – choose the people you want to be around. People who don’t shame you, guilt you, judge you. Your time is precious so make sure that you spend them with the people who are nice to you, kind to you, loving and accepting of you.
- FOLLOW YOUR GUT – focus on the here and now. When you know yourself very well, you know your limits. Honor it and respect it. It is difficult to be in the present when you are worried or anxious.
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