Oakton,
Va., Dec. 9, 2004-For many people,
the holiday season can be a joyful time to
get together with loved ones and celebrate.
For others, this can be an extremely demanding
time of year. In an effort to help local families
and individuals, Northern Virginia Family
Service (NVFS) released today strategies to
cope with the difficulties that can accompany
the holidays.
“There
are a variety of reasons why the holidays
are a difficult time for families. For example,
families may find themselves in debt because
they have spent too much money on holiday
gifts and celebrations. These and other issues
may lead to other family problems, such as
divorce or even child abuse. All of these
things can lead people to feel overwhelmed,
stressed and depressed,” said Mary Agee, NVFS
president and CEO.
Northern
Virginia Family Service offers these tips
for a healthy and happy holiday season:
To
cope with holiday blues:
When
enjoying holiday foods and alcohol, do so
in moderation.
Try
to stick to your normal daily routine as much
as possible, including getting adequate sleep
and exercise.
Be
realistic about what you expect to accomplish
this holiday season. Don’t take on more responsibilities
or activities than you can reasonably handle.
Look
at the big picture and remember what the holidays
are about.
To
manage finances:
Before
holiday shopping, decide up front how much
you can spend and keep track of receipts.
Create
a budget and stick to it by keeping track
of what you spend, redefining necessary expenses
and improving record keeping.
Consider
getting help from a credit counselor to help
you understand your current situation and
develop financial goals.
Learn
ways to save money, including payroll withholding,
401k and making better decisions when grocery
shopping.
Parents
can learn anger management and positive ways
to raise their children to reduce abuse, including:
Becoming
aware of where their children are developmentally
and what is reasonable to expect from them
at a given age.
Learning
different strategies of positive discipline
they are comfortable with, and that are appropriate
for the developmental stage of their child.
Exploring
the different options they have for dealing
with and channeling stress.
Recognizing
their own anger triggers and how they impact
their children.
NVFS
experts are available upon request for interviews
on these and other family issues.
Established
in 1924, Northern Virginia Family Service
is a private, non-profit community service
resource dedicated to helping individuals
and families find new paths to self-reliance
and brighter futures. Each year, NVFS helps
more than 27,000 people find affordable housing
and health care for their children, avoid
or recover from debt, earn a living wage and
much more. For more information, visit www.nvfs.org.
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