Surviving Your Family During The Holiday Season

Not all people have a perfect family, and the festive Christmas season does not seem to make it perfect. Gathering your dysfunctional crew in one holiday event could make you stressed out, but reassure yourself that these feelings are normal. Try our suggestions in relieving your stress—and keeping your sanity in the process.

Don't expect miracles to happen – When certain family members (and it could include you) bicker at each other all year long, you can be sure that there will be tension at the Christmas lunch. Not inviting either one of the warring members won't help as you might be accused of taking sides. So keep it cool.

Avoid the argument triggers – Do not come up with issues that would definitely cause arguments among warring members. For instance, if politics is a touchy subject in your family, do not talk about it. If someone brings up the topic, use distraction and quickly move onto something else to talk about.

Relax – Breathe deeply or focus on your breath. This helps you cope with anxiety or tension.

Do a group activity – Plan something that the family can do as a group after lunch. Try playing football, games, or even karaoke.

Do not self-medicate – People under stress tend to fall in the temptation of “healing” themselves with alcohol, cigarettes, or even drugs. Remember that these cannot solve the problems or alleviate the stress in the long run.