The joyous anticipation of the Christmas season is frequently mixed with a less welcome guest: tension, as we prepare to decorate the halls and assemble around tables filled with festive fare. Tai Mendenhall, a professor and family therapist at the University of Minnesota, recently shared wise counsel on a range of seasonal issues and offered insight into navigating this complex time of year.
The preamble may hold the secret to a more seamless vacation. “In the medical field, we say that prevention is preferable to repair,” Mendonhall said at the University of Minnesota. He advocates establishing a clear budget, carefully organizing the holiday shuffle among family and friend groups, and even choosing a low-cost gift exchange to ease financial strain. Mendenhall also suggests making big family meals easier by planning ahead and assigning chores to others. This will not only reduce the workload but also promote a sense of community and inclusivity.
Feelings of overwhelm are a recurrent theme during the end-of-year celebrations, when stressors like crowded airports, snowstorms, and delicate topics at the dinner table escalate to a crescendo. This truth is acknowledged by Mendenhall, who states, “It is very normal.” He suggests slowing down and allowing oneself to be imperfect. He promotes keeping up healthy routines and remembering the true meaning of the holidays.
Mendenhall offers empathy and helpful advice to people who are experiencing loneliness. “Ironically, you are not alone in feeling lonely,” he said. He urges people to actively seek out friends, find community, and engage in artistic expression as a sobering reminder that the spirit of the season can occasionally stand in stark contrast to our own experiences. His arsenal for personal wellness also includes limiting energy-drainers like excessive social media use and not being afraid to seek treatment if necessary.
Mendenhall also discussed how to skillfully balance a number of obligations over the holidays. It’s about working as a team with partners, being flexible, and setting boundaries to ensure that commitments are manageable. Creativity and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances are paramount.
The College of Education and Human Development where Mendenhall teaches is committed to creating opportunities and addressing a wide range of societal challenges. The Couple and Family Therapy Program aims to train future practitioners in practices that nurture families and communities, both locally and globally. Mendenhall highlights the program’s focus on leveraging collaborative partnerships to promote care strategies fostering positive change.
As the season’s hustle and bustle beckon, Mendenhall’s insights offer a blueprint for navigating the holiday highs and lows. His message is a reminder that, amidst the cheer, being mindful of our health mental, physical, and emotional can truly make for a happy holiday.
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