“There are many
healthy ways to cope with issues many of us face during the holidays,” said
Kerry Minnis, licensed clinical social worker at Franciscan St.
Francis Health,
offering several tips:
Stress Overload
·
Simplify.
Cut your “to-do” list. Delegate and get help.
·
Make
choices that are good for you and your family.
·
Remember,
time management is self-management. Teaching others to respect your time and
having realistic goals are helpful.
Grieving
·
Develop
new traditions. Reaffirm your spirituality. Focus on family.
·
Examine
your holiday rituals and traditions. Keep those that are enjoyable and
meaningful. Create new rituals that fit your current lifestyle.
·
Reach
out to others and share in the true meaning of the holiday.
Hard Time Economy
·
Avoid
gift-giving frenzies. Use alternative gifts if money is a problem. Those may
include something you can make or a card with the offer to provide a task or
chore.
·
Focusing
on the original meaning of the holiday can help overcome guilt associated with
the inability to buy the gifts we would like.
Francis
St. Francis Outpatient Behavioral Health Services offers a variety of services
and programs throughout the year. Click here to learn more.
