Tis the Season:
Guide to Navigating the Holidays

There’s no avoiding it: The holidays are here. While this time of year can bring joy, it can also be a source of stress. Between traveling, buying gifts, and preparing large meals, the holidays can affect almost all aspects of our lives, from our wallets to our waistlines. How can we lose the stress and bring back the joy this holiday season?

Counseling@Northwestern has the answer with our “Holiday Survival Guide.” With wellness in mind, our experts have weighed in on common holiday stressors with actionable tips that can be easily put into practice. Consider it our gift to you this year — a low-stress holiday!

How to Navigate Multicultural Holidays

Almost everyone knows about the typical holidays celebrated during the winter months but, there are many other holidays not traditionally celebrated that sometimes get forgotten. In being mindful, it is helpful to take an inventory of our personal willingness to be more aware of what others around us experience. This post provides questions and answers that you can apply this holiday season to learn more about both well- and lesser-known traditions, and open your mind beyond what you celebrate.

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How to Prevent Holiday Weight Gain

Synonymous with the holidays are the tantalizing tastes, smells, and daydreams of rich comfort food. We can easily be lured into overindulging, which can come with a hefty dose of guilt. Rather than give in and wave the white flag, try making changes to build the willpower you need to happily eat in moderation, not feel restricted, and prevent holiday weight gain.

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How to Thrive at Holiday Parties While in Recovery

Holiday parties can provide a great time to catch up with loved ones and friends you haven’t seen in a while. However, for some, holiday parties can present an array of challenges—especially for those who struggle with addiction. Some people who are in recovery find the holidays to be a difficult time as they are surrounded by frequent social gatherings involving alcohol and anxiety-inducing situations. Here, we’ll provide steps you can to enjoy holiday parties, despite the stress that may accompany them.

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How to Deal with Holiday Financial Stress

During this season, we are bombarded with holiday ads on TV, the radio, and in magazines telling us to buy more and more. It is easy to spend beyond your budget trying to meet holiday expectations for family and friends. However, with the right strategies, there is hope that you—and your wallet—can enjoy greater holiday bliss.

Read How to Deal with Holiday Financial Stress”