Mind Your Mental Health 

December is National Stress-Free Family Holidays Month 

As the holidays roll around again, strive to make a commitment to taking care of yourself — and not just heroically decorating, cooking, hosting, spending, and socializing. The wisdom of seeking balance can make a big difference. 

• A recent OnePoll survey of 2,000 adults found that 67 percent report placing unnecessary pressure on themselves to engineer the “perfect” holiday. 
• To reduce holiday stress, try to be more realistic about what you can do during this time. Don’t aim for perfection; simplify and downsize wherever possible. 
• Ask for help with tasks. Gracefully decline some invitations and look after yourself instead. 
• Don’t harshly criticize yourself or get into heavy debates with others during the holidays. Strive to keep things cool. 

• If the same stuffy family holiday rituals are now a burden for you, break patterns and try celebrating in new ways. 

Mind Your Mental Health (MYMH) helps raise awareness about important health issues to help you and your friends, family, and co-workers learn practical ways to support your own health and gain an understanding of how to help others. 

Visit www.MagellanHealthcare.com/about/bh-resources/mymh or call EAP for confidential mental health resources. 

Additional sources: Harvard Business Review, Psychology Today, BetterUp.com, StudyFinds.org, American Psychological Association.