10 Realistic Ways To Set Boundaries With Others During The Holidays

LordHenriVoton via Getty Images Setting boundaries during the holiday season is crucial in curbing stress. It’s not only a nice thing to do for yourself, but in some cases, it is essential for your overall well-being.” Rachel Hoffman, a licensed clinical social worker and chief therapy officer at Real, said boundaries are especially important this year, “as we’re living through an ongoing pandemic, witnessing a tremendous amount of destruction, and experiencing collective grief.” Think of it this way: Your mental health can’t afford not to have boundaries. “If we recognize that we tend to overfill our schedule with holiday parties, and then feel emotionally exhausted, then maybe the thing we are needing is self-preservation,” said Kaitlin Soule, a licensed marriage and family therapist and author of “A Little Less of a Hot Mess.” “This might look like committing to saying ‘yes’ to just your top two or three holiday-related events and building in more time to cozy up at home with a good book or a loved one,” she added. If you don’t want to expand your circle this year, try saying something like “to keep everyone as safe and healthy as possible this season, I’m comfortable hosting our immediate family at home, and will plan to celebrate with friends and neighbors that we typically see this time of the year in different ways.” Try to keep the discussion focused on you and your concerns, Patel-Dunn said. “It’s also harder to think clearly and stay calm.” Levy also recommended taking breaks throughout the day, as “overwhelming your brain and body makes it harder to stick to your boundaries, manage tough feelings, and handle stressful situations.” “Focus on what matters to you and what you want to get out of the holidays,” Levy added.