Thursday, December 18, 2014

12 Days of Christmas | Dealing with your crazy family during the holidays!

It's Day 5 of our 12 Days of Christmas series! Crazy family members. We all have them. Those crazy relatives you’re not looking forward to seeing over the holidays. Whether they pinch your cheeks, make awkward comments or are just plain old crazy/annoying/unbearable in some way, we’ve all got someone we’d just rather not be around, who’s unfortunately in our family. It’s okay, you’re not expected to get along with everyone, and it doesn’t make you a bad person. But, during the holidays it’s possible you may be around these people for hours, days or maybe even weeks on end. So how can you deal?! Well let me tell you:

1.     Just be nice! – Whether you genuinely don’t like someone, or they’re simply a little annoying, a little positivity goes a long way. It’s just easier not to give in to the overwhelming feeling of yelling, “JUST SHUT UP!” or whatever else runs through your head when they’re around. Luckily, you only need to be around these people for a short about of time, so there’s no point in causing extra problems. Count to 10, breathe in and out and just be as nice as possible to avoid drama and get yourself through the holidays in one piece.

2.     Keep yourself busy! – There’s always a ton of housework and other tasks that need to get done during the holidays. If it’s killing you to put on a fake smile and fraternize with people who are driving you insane, just find something to do.  Whether it’s washing the dishes after everyone’s eaten, helping to do some shopping or keeping the house clean – there will definitely be a chore or a task that you can help out with, and avoid anyone you don’t want to be around. And in the end, you’re helping to alleviate stress from those who normally do these things, which is always good!

3.     Give them a chance! – This may sound crazy, but people change. Your annoying cousin you haven’t seen for 4 years might’ve actually turned into a cool person. And here’s the thing people forget, YOU CHANGE TOO. So, the way you react to things and get along with people may have also changed. Before you judge your relatives on the last couple of times you saw them, why not decide to start with a clean slate? It’s easier said than done, I know, but you might be surprised at the relationships you can create. Who knows, your holiday might even become bearable!

4.     Get to know new relatives! – If your family is huge like mine, there’s always new people coming in, or people you may not know well at all! If you really don’t get along with someone, take the opportunity to introduce yourself to new family members. If there are some relatives you’ve never really gotten to know, the holidays are also a great time to create positive energy by forming new bonds, instead of being sour about old ones!

These may sound like crazy simple tips, but I promise they work! Yes, I’m speaking from experience..LOL. Just remember, a negative mind doesn’t lead to a positive life. As long as you approach things with positivity and holiday spirit – you’ll get thru it!


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