TIPS TO GET THROUGH CHRISTMAS IN ONE PIECE
                     TIPS TO GET THROUGH CHRISTMAS IN ONE 
PIECE
This was supposed to be a holiday post, but I wasn’t able to post this one in time 
for Hannukah, so I’m calling this “tips to get through Christmas in one piece” 
instead of “how to get through the holidays in one piece”.   So, here it goes….
The holidays are hard for a lot of people.  It’s supposed to represent family, fun 
and relaxation, however the experience is often the opposite.  If you have family 
obligations, it is probably too late to cancel or change plans, so these are some 
ideas to get you through.
Breathe! 
 
Take 5 minutes here and there for yourself and just 
breathe! If you have to, go to the bathroom to escape 
and take a few minutes to collect yourself. 
 
Focus on what you like about everyone 
 
You have chosen to spend your holiday with “these 
people” for a reason.  Whether it’s out of obligation or 
love, you have made a decision to be there.  Focus on 
the parts of each person that you like.  Even the most 
horrible people in the world have some redeeming 
qualities. 
 
Make it a game 
 
If you don’t like that your mom bosses you around, 
guess how many times she will boss you around today 
and then count throughout the day and see how close 
you get to the real number.  If you have a relative who 
rolls their eyes at you, rate the eye roll.  If it is an 
impressive one, give them a 10, if they could have put 
more effort into it, give them a 5. If it was horrible, give 
them a 0.
Control what you can and let go of the rest 
 
If family members seem to make all of the decisions or boss 
you around, you can choose to not spend future holidays with 
them. Since this will take time to figure out, and Christmas is 
THIS WEEK, I would recommend doing what you can for 
yourself and going with the flow this one last time (unless 
there is abuse involved).  In the meantime, use this as fuel to 
make changes in the future. Identify what you can control 
and what you can’t. For example, if everyone is planning on 
eating at 8pm and you are used to eating at 5pm, have a 
snack or a meal on your own and then either not eat later or 
eat something small. 
 
Meet with a therapist to figure out what to do in the 
future 
 
The holidays should be something you are looking forward to 
each year.  If you aren’t having a good time around the 
holidays, a therapist can help you work on how to lower your 
stress, how to set boundaries with family members, and how 
to change your expectations.  Perhaps you copy the 
“Friendsgiving” idea and celebrate on Christmas with your 
family but have a “real” Christmas by yourself or with friends.
This too shall pass
Even though they seem like they last forever, the holidays are only around for a limited 
time.  Think about all of the things you are going to do when the holidays are over and then 
call a friend for support.  Remember that you don’t have to continue to put yourself through 
this and that you can make a decision after the holidays about what you will do different in 
the future.
Thanks for watching. 
Website URL-https://longbeachtherapy.com/ 
Contact Number-562-310-9741