Happier Holidays: Managing Stress in the Holiday Season (Zoom Workshop )

We all know that holiday season can be a time of joy, gratitude, and connection — but for many, it can stir up stress, grief, and unmet expectations.  How many times have family events, dinners, or gift giving left us feeling disappointed?  Maybe relationships are strained, finances are tight, or you’re feeling the absence of loved ones.  In these moments, it’s important to remember that even Jesus experienced weariness, sorrow, and the need to withdraw and rest.

As individuals who walk in faith, we’re called to reflect God’s love — but not to carry every burden alone.  Jesus modeled compassion and unconditional love.  But Jesus also showed us boundaries.  A therapist’s favorite word:  Boundaries.  It is ok to say NO.  It is ok to set a tim limit, or a price limit, or a gift limit to help us manage the demands of the holidays.   

Our busy culture admires Jesus as he served and healed others. We sometimes forget to notice that he took time for prayer, solitude, and renewal.  You must do the same!

Here are some strategies for a balanced approach to the holidays: 

• If the season feels heavy this year, remember: you are not alone. Lean on your faith community, find someone to talk to.  www.ccccpb.org

• Acknowledge your emotions. It’s okay to not be okay. Denying your feelings doesn’t make them go away — naming them is the first step toward healing.

• Set realistic expectations.  Turn off the Hallmark channel — you don’t have to create the “perfect” holiday. Focus on what’s meaningful, not what’s picture-perfect.

• Simplify:  Choose a few traditions or gatherings that bring joy and connection, and release the rest without guilt. Create new traditions in situation where someone is longer present or separation has created difference.  Remember ‘different’ does not =‘bad’, different just means not the same as it once was.

• Practice healthy boundaries. Even Jesus stepped away from the crowds to pray. It’s okay to say “no” or to step back from situations that drain you.

• ‘Be’ in the  moment – you are a human being, not a human doing.  Focus on grace over perfection. When you feel the pressure to “do it all,” stop and find one thing to focus on.

Join us!  Nov. 18^th 7pm  online workshop:  Happier Holidays: Managing Stress in the Holiday Season, where we’ll explore how to care for our mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being in practical, faith-based ways.  We will also explore how to manage difficult relationships in our lives.

• When: Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at 7 – 8 PM
• RSVP: 561-676-8459 or htateboldtconsult@gmail.com (Zoom link provided after reserving your spot)