How to Put Happiness Back Into the Holidays

By Rose Lee Josephson | December 13, 2004

The holidays can be a wonderful time filled with excitement, love, ritual and precious moments shared with family and friends. However, the holidays can also represent a difficult period of stress. When added to the normal strains of daily life, the pressures of buying gifts, fighting traffic, dealing with grief and loss, and awkward family gatherings following a divorce or separation can diminish the joy and peacefulness of the season.

While some people may handle these stresses well, others may be experiencing overload and have difficulty coping. Here are nine holiday stress busters to help put happiness back into your holiday.

1. Prioritize. Make choices and savor those choices instead of trying to squeeze everything in.
2. Slow down and avoid the RUSH of "hurry sickness."
3. Modulate consumerism.
4. Stop the guilt by letting go of perfectionism and self-demanding expectations to be the best crafter, decorator, cook and host/hostess.
5. Rekindle within a spirit of caring.
6. Appreciate yourself and the time you have here.
7. Use your freedom to choose the people you wish to be with.
8. Budget your energy and resources.
9. Nurture your relationships with friends and family by showing gratitude to them for being in your life.

In addition to these helpful tips, remember the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) is here to assist with counseling, assessment and referral services. A staff of caring and competent professionals provide these confidential services free of charge to faculty, staff and their immediate family members. For more information on FSAP, visit http://blink.ucsd.edu/go/fsap. To arrange an appointment, call (858) 534-5523.