North Little Rock e-Newsletter Provided by Diane Whitbey, City Clerk and Treasurer
December 2025
pumping. Meditate or do some yoga. If you start to feel yourself getting stressed, it's okay to hit pause and reboot with some self care and relaxation. Just be sure to let others know that you’re coming back so they don’t misinterpret your absence or worry you got stuck in a chimney. 6. Speak for yourself, not for others. One of the great things about family is that we all play differFound at Hioscar.com ent roles. Though we often share experiences and memories, we 10 Healthy Ways To Deal With Holiday Family Drama can have differing viewpoints. Remember that you don’t have For many of us, spending the holidays with family brings us comfort and joy. For others, holiday family time is anything but to resign to your family role. Be patient. When things get heated, try using “I” statements to identify good tidings. From the stress of travel to the pressures of giftgiving, the holidays can trigger a flurry of bad habits and feel- what you’re feeling and what your unmet needs might be. For ings that cause serious conflict. But family drama doesn’t have example, instead of saying "You're always stereotyping people from Los Angeles," you could say, "I feel misunderstood when to run your season of joy off the rails. you say everyone in LA is shallow." 1. Understand your expectations. “I” statements can help de-escalate an argument, and also give Before you pack your bags, you’ll want to get a clear sense of what you hope to get from your family visit and holiday travel. your family the opportunity to express their own needs and feelings, without putting them on the defensive. Do a personal inventory of the reasons why you’re spending 7. Feel the feels. time with family during the holidays. If you feel like you’re Sadness and grief sometimes show up during the holidays. going home solely to meet someone else’s needs rather than Family gatherings can remind us of those who are no longer your own, it might be time to adjust your plans or your expectathere, too. If you recently lost a loved one, talk to your family tions. about ways you can commemorate them or acknowledge their 2. Set your personal boundaries ahead absence. Check your family’s barometer in of time. terms of what feels comfortable. AnticiDon’t wait until you’re at the dinner pate that the holidays may be a time of table to set your personal limits. Detergrieving and longing, but that reminiscing mine for yourself what feels good and with others can help heal your grief. what doesn’t, and use this information to 8. Tap into stress-busters. guide your decisions. Next, make a game Families often know just what buttons to plan for how you’ll establish and set your push. If you feel yourself getting overboundaries in real time during your trip, whelmed by emotions in a given moment, then communicate them to those intry stress-busting techniques like silently volved. This will be useful for everything counting backwards from 100, humming a from airport travel to mealtimes, sleeping song in your head, or conjugating verbs in accommodations, and even gift giving. foreign languages. You can practice light You can always clarify or adjust your boundaries as you go along, but it helps to establish them ahead alternating tapping under the dining table on each of your knees. Rhythm can be soothing, and no one has to know! You of time. could also try deep, slow breaths from your belly to shift your 3. Stay open to others' needs. Be open to having a dialogue with your family members about body out of reactive mode. 9. Take a family-free vacation. their needs, too. Depending on how aligned their needs are to Some people have family members that clash with their value yours, you might need to adjust your plans to accommodate theirs, if you’re willing. Once they communicate their needs, let systems, identity, and life choices. This can make the holidays a them know that you’ve heard them and share how you’re will- volatile time despite your best intentions and efforts. In some instances, taking a break from spending the holidays with your ing to be flexible. family might be the most caring choice for you right now. Try 4. Be mindful of substances. The holidays are an indulgent time of year. But don’t let sug- Friendsgiving this year, or skip the week-long visit before New ar, carbs, and alcohol impose on your family dynamic. In large Year’s and opt for a staycation instead. 10. Refuel and establish your routine. amounts, these substances can impair your mood and judgeTake time to refuel and re-establish your routine after the holiment, so it’s super important to be mindful of your intake and not go overboard. If you’re currently in a 12-step program, look days. If you spent a ton of time with family, reconnect with friends when you’re back in town. If you have children and into local meetings before your trip and build space in your schedule so you can attend them in person or have time to make spent the holidays visiting extended family, carve out quality time with your nuclear family to regroup before you plunge calls. back into normal life. 5. Take a breather. Sometimes, the holiday high can carry you through to the New Breaks can be a great way to reset and let off some steam. Go Year. But if you need extra support planning before or during for a walk. Get some fresh air. Take a jog to get your blood the holidays, try talking it out with a therapist or counselor. “Where’s Mel”? Be the first person to call 501-975-8617 and tell us where you found Mel hiding and win!
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