A few days off, eating until we’re stuffed, shopping ourselves into a Black Friday oblivion mmm it smells like Thanksgiving season. Family stress can come right along with that too and we will only be thankful once it’s finally over!
It’s important to take care of yourself during the holidays and protect your mental state. Yes it is the season for being with family and multiple group gatherings, but it will mean nothing if you are stressed out and wishing for it to end.
For anyone traveling or spending some extended time with relatives that rile you up here are a few ways to survive and maybe even enjoy turkey day this year. Remember the things you are grateful for and make this a memorable holiday.
Someone pass the mashed potatoes.
Avoid hot topics and be the bigger person when others go low. Thanksgiving is supposed to be a happy occasion, but we all have that one family member who can’t seem to help him or herself; the one who always brings up controversial issues as if to purposely start a debate. It’s immature, so don’t be that person. And if you find yourself on the receiving end of this person’s banter, change the subject. When in doubt, break out the board games! Your host will thank you. And if you’re the host and can predict problems before the day comes, be up front about a no politics rule from the get-go.
Expect nothing. Whether you have magical childhood memories of the holidays or pop culture has set your standards high, it’s so easy to be disappointed this time of year. Often, we are too busy trying to recreate something special that we can’t be present and enjoy whatever is actually happening. Not only that, but we also lose perspective. Will Thanksgiving be a complete disaster if a specific dish isn’t on the table? Count your blessings without expecting them. This includes being grateful for the family members and friends that could make it to the occasion, and being understanding (instead of, say, judgmental) when certain people choose not to attend.
Allow time for travel and self-care. Nothing instantly makes a situation tense like running late. Prepare for travel delays and traffic jams by planning to get to your destination early. Before you get there, however, it’s critical that you take time to decompress. You can’t possibly run yourself ragged leading up to the main event and expect yourself to be healthy and happy on the big day. If you’re sick or snappy at the people you love, you’ll leave with a bad taste in your mouth about the experience.
Don’t expect people to accommodate your dietary needs. This one falls under expectations. If you have a specific dietary need or preference, perhaps you should bring a dish to share that also falls under the category of things you can eat. Of course, you can mention your concerns to the host, well in advance, but he or she will have plenty of other things to think about and your requests may fall through the cracks. Remember that while it may seem like Thanksgiving is all about the food, it’s actually about gratitude and togetherness, so take any culinary faux pas in stride.
Go with the flow. Generally speaking, be flexible and don’t take the day too seriously. The more relaxed you are, the more fun you’ll have. If you tend to feel stressed or anxious on Thanksgiving, don’t dread the day and just try to get through it; talk to a therapist either before or after the chaos and maybe you’ll have a different perspective on things this year.
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