The holiday season can be joyful, but it can also feel stressful. Many people face family expectations, political arguments and extra costs for celebrations. These pressures often happen at the same time and increase overall stress.
A clinical psychologist says short periods of reflection can help. A few quiet minutes let people notice what causes stress and decide how to act. He also advises to stop using stress strategies that do not work and to try simpler, more realistic approaches to cope during the holidays.
Difficult words
- expectation — idea of what someone should do or feelexpectations
- pressure — feelings of stress from outside demandspressures
- reflection — quiet thought about a situation or feelings
- psychologist — a trained person who studies or treats minds
- cope — manage problems and feel less stressed
- realistic — likely to work in real life situations
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Which holiday pressures mentioned in the text do you feel?
- Have you ever tried a few quiet minutes to reflect when stressed? What happened?
- What simple, realistic action could help you reduce stress during the holidays?
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