How to Psychologically Manage Family Obligations at Christmas

In countries with strong roots in Christianity, it is practically impossible to have an objective and neutral vision of what Christmas is; This is because, for decades, an entire advertising and propaganda machinery has been put in place about how we should feel about the arrival of these days of the year, and about the feelings that predominate in society at the end of the month of December. .

The “Christmas spirit” is talked about as something that should be expressed through the actions of everyone, even those who are not Christians; This is because the importance of these festivities is so imprinted in Western culture that a series of rituals and expectations are generated that go beyond the religious. And this is reflected above all in the social pressure that thousands of people experience when it comes to face family obligations associated with Christmas dinners and gatherings Let’s see how to deal with this phenomenon.

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Sources of stress when faced with family obligations at Christmas

As we have seen, Christmas comes full of high expectations about what the perfect Christmas holidays should be like; And if we add to this that during these days the most important family gatherings of the year usually take place in hundreds of homes, the perfect cocktail for stress and anxiety problems is formed. That is to say, if planning and executing family dinners and meals is already an intellectual challenge, it is also a challenge when it comes to managing emotions.

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In this sense, The following stress-generating elements stand out in the face of family obligations linked to Christmas:

How to face family obligations during Christmas?

These general recommendations can help you face family obligations:

1. Make a list of the main “extra” tasks to perform and order them

The first step is to have a “mental map” of the obligations that you should face during the month of December and that you should not face during the rest of the year. To do this, make a list in which you write down all these tasks to be carried out. Then, make another list ordering them according to their degree of urgency, and another ordering them according to their degree of difficulty.

With these last two lists in mind, it is recommended that you take care of the most urgent and the simplest obligations first, combining both criteria. This way it will be easier for you to focus your attention only on those responsibilities and not let yourself be intimidated by the set of things to do, since the latter could be paralyzed due to excess anxiety.

2. Seek help if you need it, and offer yours

Precisely because these are family obligations, you must keep in mind that the way you deal with them does not have to be individualistic. Let the people closest to you know that you need help if you see that the situation is beyond you, in a context of relationships in which they also know that they can count on you. Delegating tasks is not a bad thing.

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3. Plan expenses from the beginning

Set spending limits on a weekly basis so that your personal finances don’t get out of hand; Remember that Christmas is accompanied by great media pressure which leads us to try to manage emotional relationships through the purchase of products.

4. Express your limits and needs assertively

A healthy family relationship is one in which each individual has the ability to set their own limits, instead of having to assume a role of submission to the requests of others. Learning to say no on time is the best way to prevent an excessive accumulation of tasks to be done Therefore, it is important that you enhance your assertive communication skills.