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How to Cope with Holiday Stress

Written by: Caitlin McCafferty
Published on: Dec 23, 2022

Coping with Holiday Stress

Photo from Adobe Stock.

With the holiday season fast approaching, Makenzie Peterson, MSc, director of well-being for the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC), highlighted 3 tips veterinary professionals can use to combat holiday season stress in an interview with dvm360®.

View the video for the entire discussion. The following is a partial transcript:

Makenzie Peterson, MSc:

1. Take a social media break. There is no need to hurt your own feelings scrolling through curated, filtered images of other peoples' seemingly perfect holidays. 

2. Isolation is not the same as spending time alone. So if you are starting to feel isolated, reach out to those who you actually would like to see during the holidays. Schedule coffee, schedule lunch, schedule drinks, schedule something. Something that helps you really positively connect with those you really do want to spend time with.

3. Set boundaries. Try to honor them. If you don't want to talk about your divorce with your nosy aunt at dinner, say you're not willing to share, then immediately change the subject, firmly. If you don't want to pack your calendar with social events, RSVP "no thank you, but thank you for thinking of me," and just don't think twice about it.

Original article from dvm360.com