By: Katherine Downs
The holiday season is notorious for being a time of peace and happiness among friends and families, although it also has a reputation of being a season of stress for many. With Thanksgiving and the holidays right around the corner, it's important to check-in with yourself mentally and avoid feelings of being overwhelmed. Here are some techniques that you can use to help ease your mind amidst any holiday chaos you may encounter.
Don’t take on too much, and don’t be afraid to say no.
- It can be easy to fall into the habit of taking on too many tasks while working with your family during the holidays. Give yourself some time to finish previous tasks before taking on new ones to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Know your own limits and how much time you’d need to get everything done. Especially with upcoming exams, take into consideration if you intend to get some studying or assignments done over the Thanksgiving break. Make sure to give yourself time to focus on your studies and don’t take on extra tasks that may interfere with your ability to get some work done. It’s usually a safe bet to plan on giving yourself more time than you originally think you may need, especially for my fellow procrastinators while at home.
Accept the fact that there will be some things that are out of your control.
- It can be frustrating when events happen differently than you had originally planned or expected them to. Accepting the fact that some things are out of your control is essential to maintaining a positive mindset, especially around family gatherings or events. Focus your time and efforts on the things that you can realistically take control of, such as your own actions towards others or the tasks you are in charge of, whether that includes setting the table, cooking a certain dish, or even studying for your exams.
Find ways to step away from your family.
- Sometimes being in a large family setting (especially around the holidays) can be overwhelming for everyone involved. Every so often it's important to step away from all the chaos and have a few moments to yourself. It can be hard at times to escape family events without seeming rude or without anyone tracking you down shortly after leaving. To avoid this, you could offer to be the one to go on supply runs to the store. Thanksgiving especially involves lots of cooking and preparing food, there’s a good chance someone will need something if you offer to run to the grocery store. If you don’t have a way of getting there, see if there is someone else with a car or a way of transportation and if you could go with them. This way, you can catch a break from those around you and focus your energy on something else. If your family has any pets, you could offer to do something with them to catch a break from your relatives. For example, if there’s a dog, offer to take it on a walk around the neighborhood. If there are small animals in the house (like a hamster, reptile, etc.) say you're going to check on them or bring them some food in order to step away with an intent of doing something helpful.
- If you plan on getting some school work done over break but struggle focusing in a busy household environment, see if there’s a quiet place where you can work. Places in the house may be limited for this, especially if you travel for the holidays and don’t have access to a private bedroom. If this is the case, try going somewhere away from home to focus. There are many places with wifi available to the public that you could try, including a local Starbucks or coffee shop (although make sure to buy something while you’re there). You can also check online for the hours of local libraries, which often have quiet spaces available for studying and computer access.