The holiday season is a time of joy, celebration, and connection. But for many, December also brings stress, pressure, and emotional challenges. Between the demands of gift-giving, social gatherings, and end-of-year responsibilities, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. As a licensed psychologist, I’m here to offer insights and strategies for navigating this season with balance and intention.
As November unfolds, it’s a season often associated with gratitude—a time to reflect on what we have, cherish our connections, and find moments of joy amidst the busyness of life. Gratitude, however, is more than a seasonal sentiment. It’s a powerful practice that can significantly enhance mental well-being and resilience.
As the leaves begin to change and the crispness of fall sets in, many of us are reminded of the constant shifts in life. Just as the trees shed their leaves and prepare for winter, we too go through seasons of transformation—whether through external changes like moving to a new city or internal shifts like reevaluating personal priorities. For many, this time of year also brings stress, anxiety, and feelings of burnout as we navigate these transitions. It can be a busy, overwhelming period that requires intentionality and self-care.
Fall presents a powerful opportunity to reflect on where we are in life, what’s no longer serving us, and how we can set healthier boundaries to protect our mental health. Life transitions, while often stressful, can also be a time of great personal growth and positive change.
Let’s explore how to approach life transitions with intention, how to set boundaries during these times of stress, and how to manage anxiety and burnout along the way. Whether you’re dealing with a career shift, a change in relationships, or just feeling the effects of seasonal transitions, this guide will provide you with tools to help navigate your journey.
Stress is more complex than just recognizing we’re overwhelmed and jumping into a warm bath to feel better. Maybe you feel like you’ve heard all there is to hear about stress and coping with it. Even still, let’s take just a little bit of time to talk about it and see if there’s anything you might be overlooking as potentially stress-related and maybe give you some coping skills you haven’t tried yet!
Kids are supposed to be happy and excited during the holidays, right? Well, for many children, the hustle and bustle of the holiday season sparks unwanted feelings of anxiousness. As adults, we tend to overlook this truth and excuse the change in behavior as being a side effect of this magical season. Yet, the fact remains that children suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, and other anxiety-related disorders may experience a heightened sense of nervousness during these busy months. So, how do parents support their child’s needs and still manage their own copious to-do lists? Well, here are a few therapeutic activities that may benefit your child.
