Unless you are one of those rare families who just never has disagreements or drama, you probably expect a certain level of stress surrounding family get-togethers for the holidays. Families are so complicated! Every member is so different, yet also so extremely similar from the next in a way that always sparks conflict. Add significant others, spouses, babies, pets, and a huge meal into the mix and there is a chance that some sort of new or old conflict will arise.
Image: Karmalize on Flickr
The holiday season is officially here. If you feel stressed about the upcoming festivities, here are some tips to remember when spending large amounts of time with your entire family:
- Huge family get-togethers only occur once or twice a year. Try to focus on the positive for just a few days.
- Go in with a positive attitude, but without high expectations. Don’t expect that everything will perfect, but do expect that you will be able to calmly handle whatever comes your way.
- Focus on doing the best you can to help. A lot of times family members disagree because they don’t feel that everyone is pulling their weight equally. Focus on doing what you can to help (make plans, cook, decorate, chauffeur, etc.) without worrying about what other people aren’t doing.
- Don’t sweat the small things. You have a lifetime of history with your family, which could cause you to get upset over small things. Try to focus on the big picture and let small battles slide.
- Give yourself a break. If you find that a situation is getting overwhelming, take yourself out of it. Family get-togethers can be overwhelming with tons of people around all the time, so take some time to go for a walk or go workout by yourself to clear your head.
- This is not the best time for confrontations and interventions. Again, focus on maintaining a positive attitude and enjoying that you all get to spend time together. If you have issues with someone, discuss them in private at a separate time. Don’t form alliances or gang up on anyone…it will cause more hurt than help. Don’t start arguments.
Enjoy being around your loved ones and appreciate that you have the opportunity to spend the holidays together.
Post from: Blisstree