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Managing Holiday Stress for Families!
As we approach the holidays, many of us look forward to spending time with family and friends. Sharing in the joys of the season is a favorite pastime for most of us to experience, along with a break from school and work. However, for some, the holiday season can potentially bring up difficult and anxious feelings. At this time of year, we may often think about loved ones not with us, how to finance the gifts and experiences we want to give to the people we love, how to “make the rounds,” how to survive hours in the car with small children, and the list seems to go on indefinitely.
In fact, one study conducted by the Harvard Medical School determined that approximately “Sixty-two percent of respondents described their stress level as very, or somewhat, elevated during the holidays” (Holiday Stress and the Brain, 2016). Likewise, roughly half of that number actually pertained to children. We all know that children learn what they see, so if they see the adults in their lives stressed out, they will be too. Therefore, it is important to find ways to cope with our own holiday anxiety, knowing that the less holiday stress we feel, the more relaxed the children around us will be during this time of year. As such, please feel free to check out this practical article from Family First Pediatrics on ways to help minimize the stress we may all feel during this holiday season. May you all have a wonderful, safe, and happy holiday!
~ Mr. Ling
Source: Holiday Stress and the Brain. (2016, Winter). https://hms.harvard.edu/news-events/publications-archive/brain/holiday-stress-brain
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