Tips to Surviving the Holidays with Your Family

Are you dreading the holiday season? Are you dreading seeing the family members you have been trying to avoid all year? I know everyone feels differently about their families. Some of you love spending time with family, some of you avoid specific family members like the plague and then well, there are others who dread being around anyone and everyone around the holidays.

Maybe you dread your family because drama always seems to follow them, maybe your mother in law drives you crazy and you can’t stand to be in the room with her for longer than 5 minutes or maybe your family is just downright boring. Where ever you stand with your family, here are some basic tips on how to get through the holidays.

FIND AN ALLY

There is no reason you have to face the holidays alone. Try and find that one relative you do like being around and try and spend the whole time with them. Talk, play a game, drink and be merry! If you don’t have a relative like that, bring a friend or have one on stand by that you can text throughout the night so you can try and remain sane. It’s always nice to have a distraction when you are trying to avoid those specific people.

TAKE A BREAK

Anytime you start to feel overwhelmed, annoyed, angry, etc. try excusing yourself to the bathroom, go out to car to “get something” or you can even offer to go to the gas station to get something as simple as ice. Do what you need to do to recollect yourself before you do or say something you regret. You want to make sure you are able to walk back into the "danger zone" with your best foot forward.

REMEMBER TO SMILE AND NOD

If you are ever in a situation where you have to talk to someone you don’t like or want to be around, just remember to smile and nod and keep comments to a minimum. My mother said that "money, religion, and politics were always taboo" when growing up and in today's climate, I don't think much as changed. However, that doesn't stop people from voicing their strong and sometimes ridiculous opinions. Trust me, I know first hand that when your strongly disagree with something and you know all that will happen when you open your mouth is a fight, just smile and nod. Or if you find yourself being asked a million times if you are dating anyone yet, when are you having children, just keep your answer simple and move on.

WATCH THE MERRY DRINKS

I know, I know alcohol may be your go-to to get through the holidays because you think it will make you feel better but in reality it can do more harm than good. Alcohol lowers your inhibitions and can result in making poor and regrettable decisions. The last thing you want in your life is your family to remember your intoxicated drama moment for years to come. Just get in and get out in an orderly, (sober) fashion.

IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU

This tip isn’t as “feel good” as previous tips but still full of truth. The holidays are about families and friends coming together so if you can try and change your perspective than I encourage that. Taking a step outside of yourself and trying to be the bigger person may change your outlook on your family. It may even rekindle that tension you once had with said member(s). I have noticed that as I’ve gotten older and spent time with family members I use to dislike, I started seeing them in a different light and actually found that we have a lot in common.

BRING A GAME

I can acknowledge this sounds kind of childish but seriously bring a game! I would be lying if I said that I was never bored at some of my family functions. However, sitting around with family playing a game and being able to laugh together honestly is what makes it feel more like a holiday. Togetherness and laughter is way more enjoyable than the food or gifts anyways. It’s about making memories. Some of our family favorites are Catan, a competitive strategy game, Catch Phrase, a fun interactive game where members of a team guess phrases or words, or lastly Things, a game where people write their own answers and then players guess who wrote them. Things when played with adults can be inappropriate for children but will have you and your family cracking up for hours, I promise!

IT’S THE FREAKING HOLIDAYS

Guys, C’mon it’s the holidays! Whether it’s with friends or family, it’s about unity and togetherness. I love the holidays for this very reason. I love all of the food, the lights, the fire in the fireplaces, and the salted caramel hot chocolate from Starbucks. It’s such a magical time. So if you don’t like being around family, do something that you do enjoy even if it’s having your own little get-together with friends or with people you actually want to be around. Soak up every minute you can. Life is too short otherwise.

So what do you do to get through the holidays? Leave your comments below.

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