Higher Ed EAP: Advice for Happy Holiday Dynamics
For most people, getting together with family and friends is the biggest joy of the holiday season. But after a few years of small and low-key pandemic holiday celebrations, you can be forgiven if you need to brush up on your social skills and etiquette. Here are some of Higher Ed EAP’s counselors’ best tips for surviving the holiday season with minimal stress:
- Keep realistic expectations. Things won’t always go according to plan. Embrace imperfection. Relax.
- Put down the devices and turn off the electronics. Make a “no-electronics” rule at special meals and gatherings.
- Keep a sense of humor. Laughter, humor, and a positive attitude are contagious.
- Be a giver, not a taker. Listen more than you talk. Give more than you get. Kindness and generosity build happiness and reduce stress.
- Be flexible. Traditions change as families expand. Roll with the changes and remember that it’s about people and sharing, not rituals.
- Avoid touchy topics. Steer clear of topics that lead to arguments. If you can’t do that, then practice tolerance. Give people the benefit of the doubt.
- Forgive and forget. The holidays are the perfect time to free yourself from the burden of old grudges. Forgiveness is liberating and a gift to both the forgiver and the forgiven.
As always, there are several ways to access Higher Ed EAP free of charge:
- For immediate assistance, dial 1-800-252-4555 to speak directly with a professional counselor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
- Register and log onto www.HigherEdEAP.com
- Download, register, and log onto the ESI Employee Assistance mobile app available in the App Store or the Google Play Store.
Related Web Site : https://www.theeap.com/higher-education-eap
For more information, contact Blythe Josovitz / x.2995 / bjosovitz@fairfield.edu