7 Tips For Surviving The Holidays With Your Dysfunctional Family - Page 5

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5. Manage Your Expectations

Black Woman Looking At Her Watch And Using Smartphone At Christmas Time In The City

Source: MilanMarkovic / Getty

 

Managing expectations is key to surviving the holidays with family, especially when we all have different ideas of what the season should look like. It’s important to remind yourself that things won’t always go perfectly—there may be disagreements, last-minute changes, or unexpected challenges. Instead of holding onto an idealized version of the “perfect” holiday, try to embrace the imperfections. Letting go of the pressure to create flawless moments reduces stress and allows for more genuine, memorable experiences—even if they’re messy or imperfect. When things aren’t going as expected, remind yourself that expectations are premeditated resentments and allow yourself to go with the flow.

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