Prof. Dr. Herzberg, what can you do about Christmas stress?
Dear Students,
You are still in the middle of the stresses of the new semester and are perhaps already looking forward to the days off at Christmas. No matter how great the joy of the welcome break may be, there are a few things that should be taken into account to ensure that the Christmas days actually provide an opportunity for joy and relaxation. Because Christmas is a classic accumulation point. Different wishes and ideas collide here, together with our own expectations of the festival and those that are presented to us by others, a sometimes explosive mixture develops that often erupts on the holidays of all things.
Do you go home to your parents for Christmas? Are you celebrating with a girlfriend or boyfriend? Or do you try not to disappoint anyone and get everything under one roof? Particularly in patchwork or extended families, discussions often arise about who celebrates when, where and with whom. No matter how you set it up, you won't be able to take all of your wishes into account, and your own will often fall by the wayside (for the sake of peace).
That's why it's important to stop and understand what constraints are affecting us. Anyone who prepares for the festival according to a strict plan runs the risk of exposing themselves to unnecessary pressure. It is better to plan a basic framework in which you can act spontaneously and flexibly. Your inner voice should guide you, even if that means not meeting other people's expectations. Those who dare to break traditions and try something new often experience something unique. Be it by swapping the Christmas party with the family for a meal with friends or a short vacation, or instead of a perfect dinner, a buffet awaits the guests. Sometimes it's enough to change a little thing.
This also applies to resolving recurring family disputes. You should take the time to look at the critical points from a bird's eye view before the festival. Ask yourself what disputes arise every year and how they could be avoided.
Tips for a more harmonious holiday season:
• Less is more. The lower the expectations, the lower the potential for fall.
• Plan spontaneously. You should only roughly determine what you absolutely want to get done.
• There is nothing wrong with moving Christmas dinner to a restaurant so that the host is relieved of the burden. It can sometimes bring some momentum and a good mood back into the Christmas celebration if the usual routine is broken for once.
• Get out into nature. Walking in the forest, on the mountain and in the snow is good and relaxing.
• Dare to break with traditions. Just because you've always gone to the family gathering on Christmas Eve doesn't mean you have to keep doing it.
• Find partial solutions. Different interests collide at family celebrations. Some want to be active, others want to chat and others want to go to church. You don't have to do everything together.
With this in mind, I wish you a very old-fashioned, contemplative Christmas holiday and remind you that the days before Christmas are also called the quiet days.
Your Prof. Dr. Herzberg
Philipp Y. Herzberg is Professor of Personality Psychology and Psychological Diagnostics at the Helmut Schmidt University/University of the Bundeswehr Hamburg.
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Prof. Dr. Herzberg, what can you do about Christmas stress? Dear students, you are still in the midst of the efforts of the new semester and are perhaps already looking forward to the days off at Christmas. No matter how great the joy of the welcome break may be, the Christmas days should actually provide the opportunity for joy and relaxation
