5 Tips for Surviving Family Stress During The Holidays

The holiday season means time for celebrating with those closest to you. Whichever definition you choose, this usually means family–and family stress.

Family can be many things and if the movies teach us one thing–it’s that a holiday trip can be annoying but end with a loveable lesson. Here is what we do to make it past the awkward hugs, the eye-rolls, and weird, invasive questions about your love life.

holiday wreath and presents outside a front door — *The holiday season means different things to different people–but the main theme is time with family.*

1. Don’t Let Guilt Control You

Guilt is a great tactic to get people to do what you want. While this is taken to an extreme in abusive relationships, it’s usually just a mild bit of stress when it comes to family. However, stress can build up over time, especially when you have other things to do.

Need to get a ham on the table, but also have to hold a conversation with Mom? Dinner time can get hectic. Just remember, those closest to you generally have your well-being in mind.

If they are guilting you, determine what it is they actually want. Do they want to spend more time with you? Address this. Get it out in the open, and don’t let the age-old tactic control you.

2. One Day at a Time

Have a two-week trip to stay with your relatives? Just take it one day at a time. This can work even if you’re not on an extended stay. One hour at a time, one moment at a time. Just focus on the task at hand, and give it your full attention. Don’t worry about the rest of it.

With stressful times, it helps to use these bite-size moments. If you worry too much about the future, you’re going to put more stress on the present moment. This is where meditation comes in. You can use this tool to help calm your mind and increase your patience.

3. Organize your Giftlist (and Budget)

Organization will set you free! Think you have an insurmountable pile of tasks? Break them up, just like the previous step. It’s going to stress you out much more if you have this cloud of ideas floating over your head.

baby with santa hat with a lit tree in the background — *Practice gratitude! Be thankful for the time you have with your family.*

Here are some steps to help with that to-do list:

Write them all down – Get everything out of your head and onto paper (or screen). Make sure you have access to your notes so you can edit them as needed.
Organize by priority – You’ll see some relatives first and others later. Rearrange your gift list in order of whom you will be running into throughout the months.
Organize again by gift – After you know who you’ll be getting gifts for, you can start assigning gift ideas to each person. Brainstorm with some warm cocoa for bonus points!
Set realistic goals – You probably have a good idea of your budget for these things, but price check each item first and get yourself a total. It’s easier to plan with concrete numbers to work with.
Finalize it with a checklist – For some, the act of checking things off a list imparts a sense of satisfaction. Grab a big marker and put a check next to everything you accomplish.

4. Be Realistic with Family Expectations

It may seem counterintuitive, but saying “no” to people will actually foster healthier relationships. Your family and friends will want to see as much of you as possible over the season, and that pressure can stress you out!

champagne glasses with holiday decor for surviving family stress — *Bonus tip: making drinks or cooking can be a great way to cool down and stay present.*

Think about what you can realistically accomplish. Take the checklist from earlier but instead of gifts put family members you wish to see. Then, instead of gift prices, place trip prices for each one.

If you can’t fit in everyone, make promises to visit instead after the holiday rush calms down. They’ll most likely understand, and if they don’t–well, unfortunately, we don’t have the answers to everything!

5. Keep Self-Care in Your Routine

This extends beyond simple meditation. If you have a fitness regimen, don’t fall behind during family visits. Try to get to a gym or do home exercises.

Sticking to your routines (self-care or otherwise) will not only give you a mental boost, but it also sets an internal standard. You’re going to give your time and energy this holiday season to those you care about, but don’t lose your own way in the process. Stay grounded.

Any visit is a chance for family stress. You want your parents/relatives to have a good time with you and enjoy your stay, but the holidays can add an entirely new dimension of pressure on the events. Keeping good friends and family have surprising health benefits, so these visits are definitely worth it in the long run.

Just remember these five rules and you should sail through with no problem. Don’t forget to refrigerate leftovers and keep receipts. Happy Holidays, everyone!

Group Insurance: Plan for Your Company’s Health

When and Why to Get a Group Insurance Plan

So, you’ve got a company, and you’re thriving. As a small employer that’s excellent news! But one thing that’s important for your employees (and thus, important to you) is insurance. Next to an employee’s income, health insurance is the second most important employee benefit. This includes health plans, medical insurance, etc, for both full and part-time workers.

business notebook with planning underlined — *The planning stage comes first before you look into getting insurance.*

One of the biggest factors in the job market out there is insurance, which is paramount to keeping your employees happy. Overall high morale reduces employee turnover, and a stable workforce is one of the greatest predictors of continued success. Guaranteed issue insurance can land your company in a “Best Places to Work” chart. Secure employees equal low turnover.

If you haven’t already, you need to look into a group insurance plan.

But what is it exactly?

What is Group Insurance?

This is a coverage type for a defined group of individuals. Usually, companies will offer health insurance as the primary offering and can supplement to include dental, vision, life or disability insurance.

Group insurance is a leg-up for both the companies and the beneficiaries. Because the companies get a large number of people to cover all at once, they can reduce their rates for said individuals, and the process will go smoothly as they want your business. Wholesale isn’t just for paper towels and bread.

So, in essence, it’s a bigger version of individual health insurance (a single policy) where the company is the individual, and all the employees are separate parts.

When to Acquire?

Technically, if you’re self-employed, you could apply for small group health insurance in some states. For the majority of business owners, you’ll probably be thinking bigger. You can look into this whenever you decide the time is right for your company. Many small businesses realize the benefits of having a group insurance plan, both for the business and for the employees, and opt to look into it sooner than later. .

doctor working with a business person — *The peace of mind that comes from group health insurance is an attractive benefit.*

Remember, the choice is yours to make this step for your business. One differentiation to note is employee number as it puts you in a separate category under the Affordable Care Act. However, this shouldn’t guide your decision.

There really aren’t “milestones” separating you from the uninsured line. When you’re ready to make the investment and are looking for the first time, there is no enrollment period you have to wait for. However, make sure that you start shopping at least 90 days prior to the date you want your insurance plan to be active.

If you feel like you’re wanting to purchase group insurance with a smaller business, one marker would be income. The average annual cost for an employee premium is around $5,000.

So, if you can budget $5,000 per employee per year into your books, it may be well worth looking into.

Why Acquire?

There are many benefits to getting a group health insurance plan:

Your employees will likely be healthier given that they have access to healthcare.

These types of expenses for your business are tax deductible which means putting more money in your pocket.

The aforementioned lower turnover. Happy employees=a stable workplace

As you can see, the benefits will outweigh the costs. You’re going to want to keep your employees happy, and you’ll find support from the government and insurance agencies to smooth the process.

business man giving the thumbs up — *You can do this! You have all the help and support you need.*

Acquiring new insurance and seeking a personalized plan can be difficult and time-consuming. An agent will do the smooth the process, allowing you more time to focus on your business.

EZ.Insure offers you this solution. Your agent will answer any questions you have, compare the plans for you, and even sign you up, free of charge. To get started simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or you can speak to an agent by emailing replies@ez.insure or calling 888-998-2027. EZ.Insure makes the entire process easy, and quick.