You're Not Alone in the Holiday Haze: Coping with Stress and Family Expectations

The holidays aren’t always the picture-perfect scenes we see on TV. For many, they bring a mix of stress, financial worry, family tension, and grief, and that’s okay to admit.

As a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, I remind my clients (and myself) that you don’t have to chase perfection to have a meaningful holiday. It’s about setting realistic expectations, holding healthy boundaries, and giving yourself permission to rest and feel what you need to feel.

From mindful “micro-practices” like the Mindful Hand Wash to using the 80/20 Rule to simplify your schedule, this guide offers down-to-earth tools to help you reclaim peace this season, even in the middle of the chaos.

Read the full post on the Counseling in the Holler blog to learn how to manage stress, navigate family expectations, and honor your emotional needs this holiday season.