Holidays Archives

Coping with Grief During the Holidays

Jennifer TzoumasDecember 2, 2021November 16, 2021Leave a comment

The holidays are supposed to be a time filled with joy, laughter, and excitement. But, if you’re experiencing a loss around any holiday, it’s difficult to feel that kind of joy that those around you might be sharing.

Grief around the holidays isn’t uncommon. Maybe you recently lost someone you loved. Or, maybe you lost them years ago but you’re reminded of that every holiday season.

Grief doesn’t even need to be connected to the loss of a person. Thanks to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, people have been experiencing loss in many ways. Maybe you lost your job this year, or aren’t able to get together with your family because some of them are at a greater risk of getting sick.

Holidays Reimagined: Coping & Getting Creative Amid COVID Limitations

Jennifer TzoumasNovember 18, 2021November 4, 2021Leave a comment

It’s never too early to start thinking about the holidays. The season will be here before you know it. While that might typically bring feelings of excitement and joy, it could also bring some hesitation, or even grief, this year.

Last year, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people called off their traditional holiday get-togethers and opted for smaller gatherings or connecting over Zoom.

While things are better this year, virus variants have continued to make COVID a household name. Some states still have serious restrictions in place. Even if yours doesn’t, you might be hesitant to hold a big gathering if you want people to stay safe and healthy.

A New Take on New Year’s Resolution

Jennifer TzoumasDecember 31, 2020January 4, 2023

The year ahead needs a different kind of New Year’s Resolution. After the year we’ve had, plans to work out more and eat less are helpful, but might be superseded by resolutions more centered on our emotional health.

Consider what we’ve endured!

7 Ways to Make Merry With Your Kids for the Holidays

Jennifer TzoumasDecember 3, 2020January 8, 2022Leave a comment

The holidays are best enjoyed with a healthy dose of children’s glee and excitement! The kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, or other children in your life look forward to this season all year long.

Chances are, some of your best memories of the holidays are from your childhood. By making merry with kids, you’ll give them happiness to carry with them as they grow.

Chronic Illness During the Holidays

Jennifer TzoumasNovember 12, 2020January 8, 2022Leave a comment

Chronic Illness During a Holiday (Year Round)

Dealing with a chronic illness at any time can take every last bit of energy and strength you have. When holidays roll around, whether it’s the middle of the summer and you’re celebrating the 4th of July or a birthday, or you’re already stressing over Thanksgiving and Christmas, it’s important to know how to take care of yourself and your illness.

There will be extra demands, extra stress, and it can often feel like you have less time for yourself. So, when your internal resources may already be running low, what can you do to manage your chronic illness?

Dealing with Holiday Stress: Tips to Keep Anxiety Levels Low 1

Jennifer TzoumasNovember 14, 2019January 8, 20221 Comment

Holiday stress! Remember when the holidays were fun? Perhaps you had to harken back to early childhood to answer that question accurately.

Let’s face it, the holiday season can be joyous and fun, but it has also become synonymous with stress. Travel plans, enormous expenses, reuniting with contentious relatives—you must juggle all of these factors and more along with your usual obligations. Combine that with a desire to have the ideal holiday image in your mind, and you have a perfect recipe for holiday stress and anxiety.

8 Tips to Stick to Your Healthy Resolution 2

Jennifer TzoumasDecember 29, 2018January 8, 20222 Comments

Let’s Get Healthy!

It’s that Resolution time of year again! After a month of extra food indulgences, loosened adherence to diet and exercise, and increased stress-eating and social-eating, people across the globe commit to getting healthy in the New Year. Top goals tend to consistently include: eat healthier/lose weight and to exercise more.

Dealing with Holiday Stress 1

Jennifer TzoumasDecember 4, 2018December 4, 20201 Comment

Holiday Stress can be overwhelming. The holidays are meant to bring an increase in happiness and connection with others, but often become the cause of increased stress, frustration, anxiety, and conflict.

James Baraz wrote an article for the Greater Good Foundation (Here) with some really good basic strategies to focus on when the Grinch sneaks into our hearts and minds.