Home for the Holidays

The holiday seasons can be a time of joy, togetherness, and celebration. It is no secret though, that the holidays can also bring stress, exhaustion, and chaos. While on this upcoming winter break, InMind would like to offer a few tips to help keep your time less stressful. 

• First and foremost, don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. We can often get caught up in decorating, cooking, and cleaning to ensure that everything goes smoothly and looks meticulous. Instead, focus on being present and in the moment surrounded by those who you love. 
• Secondly, keep in mind what the holidays are really supposed to be about. Lines can be frustratingly long, and family can certainly overstay their welcome, but do not let that deter you from why you are all together in the first place. 
• Finally, take time during the break to give yourself a break. Yes, the holidays are a time of giving and sharing, but be sure to fill your cup as well. Showing yourself kindness, understanding and love will rejuvenate your social-emotional wellbeing and will better prepare you for the new year

Research Tidbit

A 2005 study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism (Gram, 2005), looked at how different members of families evaluated and described happy holiday experiences with their family. What they found was that children often described their happiest holiday experiences as activities where they were active participants.. Parents, on the other hand, described moments of rest and relaxation as their happiest moments. While both parents and children enjoyed moments of togetherness, what was happening during those moments looked different. We can use this information to create a more balanced holiday environment where we are engaging in activities with our children at times, but also building in time to experience what the researcher called "non-events" where there is no task at hand other than enjoying the moment.