Surviving the Holidays: Part 2

Now that you’ve read part 1 of our Holiday Survival Guide you should have 5 great tips and tricks for facing the terrors of being socially overwhelmed and having to answer why you don’t have a date (again).

But it’s also important to remember to make the best of these gatherings as well; avoiding the negative interactions is only half of the challenge. So while you dodge, dip, duck, and dive around frustrating questions and comments, you also need to focus on some positives. Afterall, you don’t want some rogue family members to ruin this special time of year, do you?

• TIP #1: Put the phone down and live in the moment
• You are not going to remember your mindless scrolling or any TikTok videos you watched in a week or a year from now, but you might never forget hearing your Grandparents tell the story of how they met. Don’t let the memories of your loved ones be lost to a blue light screen and someone saying, “bing bong”.
• TIP #2: Ask more questions than you answer and show that you are listening
• It’s easy to get caught up talking about yourself and what is going on in your life but everyone has their own things they would like to share if given the chance. You can only tell what you already know when you speak, and you can only learn when you listen. Be sure to listen intently and show that you’re engaged with good eye contact and non-verbal skills. If you are thinking about what you are going to say next, then you’re probably not listening super well.
• TIP #3: Be grateful for what you have, no matter how big or small it may be
• Regardless of if you’ll be spending the holidays with your whole family in a big house, or home alone with your pet (which there is nothing wrong with and many people will probably be jealous), there are things in your life that you can be grateful for. It’s easy to get caught up in all the things we want or need, the goals we have, and the dreams we chase; but don’t forget to appreciate what you already have and how hard you’ve worked to get where you are right now.

I hope you’ve found these tips helpful. If you have any questions, comments, or would like help working on any of these skills to handle your family, contact Ally Psych today!

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