Holiday Stress

Assistant Director of Health Promotion Charlynn Small is a clinical psychologist with nearly two decades of counseling experience. She can discuss how to manage stress throughout the holiday season. 

"When feeling overwhelmed, say so. While working remotely with less contact with others, it may not be easily apparent that you’re stressed. Take a mental health day, if possible. Also, check-in on colleagues."

"Celebrate the holidays safely by hosting a creative virtual event. If you choose to invite others into your space, reduce the risks of COVID by discussing your rules for safety (i.e., expectation that guests will wear masks, observe physical distancing, etc.) in advance."

"Create boundaries during the holidays. Say no to requests you don’t want or have no time to fulfill. Sure, it can be difficult or even anxiety-provoking to say to certain people. But, contrast that stress to the stress of committing to something in which you have zero interest."

"Avoid hot-button topics when engaging with family and loved ones. Agree on which topics should and should not be discussed at holiday events. Consider steering away from politics, race, and religion if these topics create too much tension for some."

Contact Sunni Brown, director of media and public relations, at sbrown5@richmond.edu to connect with Small.