Dreading a family holiday gathering?

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Family tension often runs high during the holiday season. Consider this a time to set differences aside. Try to accept loved ones as they are, even if they don't live up to all your expectations. And be understanding if others get upset or distressed when something goes awry. Chances are they're feeling the effects of holiday stress too.

Aug. 01, 2019 See more In-depth

See also

  1. 3 simple strategies to help you focus and de-stress
  2. 3 ways to become more stress resilient
  3. 3 ways to learn patience and amp up your well-being
  4. 4 proven ways you can feel happier
  5. A Very Happy Brain
  6. Adapt to put stress in its place
  7. Anger management: Your questions answered
  8. Are your holidays a dietary free-for-all?
  9. Balancing work and life responsibilities
  10. Being assertive
  11. Bridge pose
  12. Can yoga help me keep caregiver stress in check?
  13. Caregiver stress
  14. Caregiver stress
  15. Cat/cow pose
  16. Chase away the winter blues
  17. Child's pose
  18. Cobra
  19. Control email to regain control of your life
  20. Coping with excess information
  21. Coping with job stress
  22. COVID-19 and your mental health
  23. Destress with breathing
  24. Denial
  25. Downward-facing dog
  26. Ease stress to reduce your psoriasis flares
  27. Feeling overwhelmed? Take a break
  28. Forgiveness
  29. Great expectations: How to keep them from creating unhappiness
  30. Have you had a good laugh today?
  31. Holidays don't have to break the bank
  32. How decluttering your space could make you healthier and happier
  33. How sharing kindness can make you healthier & happier
  34. How to focus on the present for long-term progress
  35. Job burnout
  36. Job satisfaction
  37. Laugh more, stress less
  38. Learn to reduce stress through mindful living
  39. Learn to say no and enjoy the holidays
  40. Lifestyle strategies for pain management
  41. Manage stress through problem-solving
  42. Manage stress to improve psoriatic arthritis symptoms
  43. Mountain pose
  44. Need better work-life balance?
  45. Stress-relief tips
  46. New School Anxiety
  47. Perfect holiday? Forget about it!
  48. Pet therapy
  49. Positive thinking
  50. Problem-solving
  51. Reducing stress to manage endometriosis
  52. Resilience
  53. Say no, to say yes to less stress
  54. Seated spinal twist
  55. Setbacks and criticism — Don't let them derail you
  56. Slide show: Yoga poses
  57. Social support: Tap this tool to beat stress
  58. Spirituality and stress relief
  59. Standing forward bend
  60. Stress and technology
  61. Holiday stress
  62. Prevent stress setbacks
  63. Stress relief from laughter
  64. How to say no
  65. Stress relievers
  66. Stressed out? Skip the late show
  67. Stressed? Set yourself up for success
  68. Support groups
  69. The power of positive thinking
  70. Tired of feeling hassled? Try these tips
  71. To manage anxiety, start with the way you think
  72. Use the 80/20 rule to manage time and reduce stress
  73. Warrior 1
  74. What is hot yoga?
  75. What is reflexology?
  76. Why aromatherapy is showing up in hospital surgical units
  77. Work-life balance