How to Avoid Holiday Conflicts with Your Family
1. Be aware of expectations
โIf you go into situations with the expectation that family or friends will be different than what theyโve been in the past, it tends to be a recipe for disaster,โ Nathan says. โManaging expectations is something that’s helpful for people across the board. By lowering expectations, thereโs less room for disappointment. If the expectations are set high, people are bound to be very let down and thereโs a tendency to pull away. A helpful way to gauge your expectations is just to ask yourself what youโre hoping the experience will be. [This makes it] easier to weed out whatโs really important from what might be more of a fantasy.โ2. Check in with yourself
A great way to avoid conflict is to check in with yourself before you have the chance to feel triggered. โAsk yourself some questions about where youโre at so that youโre able to reset a little if anything is coming up for you before you go into the situation,โ Nathan suggests. โYou can start by asking simple things like: How am I feeling today? How do I feel about seeing so-and-so? Do I feel triggered in thinking about what conversations might come up? What do I need to be able to have a more positive experience?ย This helps with grounding and being present. [Plus, it makes you] aware of whatโs going on so that youโre better able to handle whatever comes at you.โ
3. Think about establishing boundaries
Nathan says that if you tend to reach a point of no return with your mood, it’s a good idea to give yourself space when needed. โThis doesnโt mean avoidance and running away,” she explains. “It means using your voice and being able to calmly and rationally say what you need to avoid conflict. For example: ‘Hey mom, Iโm feeling pretty drained after all the family time last night. Iโm going to take some me time and go to a yoga class, but Iโm happy to help you later.’ย Establishing boundaries builds self-esteem and confidence. It also sets some ground rules that generally end up feeling positive for everyone involved. If people push back against your boundaries, itโs important to continue to state what you need and remind them that youโll be far better when youโre with them if youโre able to do what you need to do for yourself.โ
4. Kindly shut down triggering topics
โSome topics that tend to come up are politics, environment, weight, and relationship (or lack thereof) commentary,โ Nathan acknowledges. โBe aware of the places where you want to lash out or completely pull away. Instead, focus on trying to stay engaged in a way that lets people know whatโs okay and whatโs not,” as in, “‘Wow, Uncle George, you seem really passionate about your political views. I get it; I am too. Iโm wondering if we might be able to put that convo aside since it tends to trigger a lot of emotion for me and it takes away from all the fun and joy I feel in seeing everyone.’ This is a gentle way to let people know youโre not rejecting them but that youโre unwilling to go to a place that will just leave everyone angry and disconnected.โ
5. Remind yourself that all things are temporary
โWhenever you get overly stressed or worried about interactions, it can be helpful to remember that the feeling will pass,โ Nathan explains. โSeparating your feelings from thoughts about what it all means can be a helpful way to manage your mood. If things feel overwhelming or inescapable, remind yourself that thereโs a time limit. Do the things you need to avoid holiday conflicts and set some healthy boundaries. Focus on enjoying your experience for what it is: imperfect. You’ll end up feeling better within the visit, and less guilty afterward.”