Ways to muddle through it all and how your strengths will help you:

• Planning may prevent last-minute scrambling and avoid accumulation of stress. Set time aside and be intentional with it. (Strengths to rely on: Creativity, Judgment, Leadership, Prudence)

• Be flexible and realistic. Things do not always go according to plan. Find more ways to be more open as you are adjusting to the unexpected or changes in plans. (Strengths to rely on: Curiosity, Perspective, Fairness, Humor)

• Clarify what is meaningful for you and help put it into action. There is often some kind of disconnect between our ideal vision for the holidays and what we end up doing. (Strengths to rely on: Love, Perspective, Spirituality, Teamwork)

• Stress is inevitable but sometimes we make our own stress. A stressor is something that triggers stress. Your stress response is how you feel after exposure to a stressor. Find ways to manage the stressors. (Strengths to rely on: Judgment, Honesty, Kindness, Teamwork)

• Try and stick to regular routines. Get enough sleep, be physically active, and balance indulgence with healthy eating and drinking. (Strengths to rely on: Creativity, Perseverance, Prudence, Self-Regulation)

• Set boundaries. Be comfortable with saying no to things and people that may cause stress. Really – it is okay to say no. You are not responsible for how people end up feeling. (Strengths to rely on: Bravery, Zest, Humility, Honesty)

• Limit your time on social media. There is no such thing as the perfect holiday. Don’t compare. (Strengths to rely on: Creativity, Social Intelligence, Fairness, Humor)

• Keep the peace for yourself and with difficult personalities. If you can, avoid topics that can create differences, such as Covid and politics. If someone else brings it up, you have options. Walk away, change the subject, create a signal with someone, or observe the conversation rather than engage. Find your broken record statements. Try not to take things personally or overthink. Relax and be mindful in the moment. (Strengths to rely on: Love of Learning, Judgment, Social Intelligence, Love, Forgiveness. Hope)

• Acknowledge your feelings. Validate them. Remember, they are messengers. We often feel forced to present ourselves as happy during the season, but it’s important to be realistic with ourselves about how we are feeling. It is normal to feel sadness, anger, or grief. Keep a check on your thoughts, though. Look for distortions and take some time to reframe. (Strengths to rely on: Curiosity, Perspective, Kindness, Self-Regulation)

• Find time to be alone. It’s important to have just a few minutes to yourself. Walk, breath, read, practice mindfulness, look at the stars… (Strengths to rely on: Creativity, Zest, Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence, Gratitude)

• Spend time reflecting on things you are grateful for this year and hopeful for in the coming year. (Strengths to rely on: Love, Gratitude, Hope, Spirituality, Perspective)

  Remember that even though your signature strengths are the ones that feel the most comfortable to you, you have all 24 of the strengths already inside of you to help you throughout the challenges of this season.