How to survive Christmas: expert tips on dealing with alcohol, grief, money pressures, being alone and more during the holiday period
- The holiday season is a time when we are expected to be joyful and relish the time spent with friends and family – but sometimes, that is not possible
- A sports psychologist provides tips on how to survive Christmas and the Lunar New Year holiday, such as by drinking mindfully and paying attention to self-care
The festive season in Hong Kong is a marathon, running from Christmas to Lunar New Year. It is a time of year when we are expected to be joyful and relish the opportunities to spend time with friends and family.
But for some, family duties and financial pressures can be crushing. This time of year can also bring up difficult emotions, from grief to trauma.
Sports psychologist Peter Economou recommends approaching the holiday season as if you were a professional athlete preparing for a big event.
“Everything is a performance. The holiday is a performance; it diffuses from the idea that it’s supposed to be a beautiful family time,” says Economou, a professor at Rutgers University, in the US state of New Jersey.
“I might not feel great on game day, I might have a bit of a cold, but I go ahead. I encourage an acceptance-based strategy.”