46: 5 Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress with Michelle Harris

In Episode 46 of The IMbetween Podcast, Daniel and Christina Im interview Michelle Harris about five ways to reduce holiday stress and have an emotionally healthy Christmas.

In This Episode, You Will Hear About:

• Why this season is the busiest time for therapists
• How to create boundaries around your holidays
• How to have a wonderful Christmas that your spouse, your children and yourself will remember and enjoy
• Five practical ways to reduce your holiday stress

Resources Mentioned During the Episode:

• A Simplified Life by Emily Ley

Our Holiday Mission Statement:

• Ready to create your own holiday mission statement and be in charge of how your holidays go?
• We have created a FREE mission statement printable to remind you of your boundaries

Quotables:

• “Sleep contributes to fat loss.” – Michelle Harris
• “There’s a direct link between your gut health and mental health.” – Michelle Harris
• “Choose foods that bless your body.” – Michelle Harris
• “Begin eating with the end in mind. How is this going to make me feel afterward?” – Michelle Harris
• “Walking 20 to 30 minutes a day can have the same impact as a low dosage of anti-depression and anxiety meds.” – Michelle Harris
• “I want to wake up on January 1st feeling better than I do today.” – Michelle Harris
• “If you begin with the end in mind, you know where you are aiming, and how to get there.” – Michelle Harris
• “You are in charge of how your holidays go. You are not a victim to the junk food around or the family members that cause you stress.” – Michelle Harris
• “What do you want your kids to remember this Christmas?” – Michelle Harris
• “By having a mission statement, you clarify what you want to focus on and what you want your Christmas season to be about.” – Michelle Harris
• “Sometimes humor can help diffuse the awkwardness and stress.” – Michelle Harris
• “It’s not fair to be resentful of how things turned out if you never clearly communicated your plans or expectations.” – Michelle Harris
• “When you are married, you are called to honor your parents, but not obey them.” – Michelle Harris
• “What season of life am I in? And are these expectations for the holidays reasonable?” – Michelle Harris
• “If we focus on everything we don’t have this season, then we are missing out on all the blessings that God has given us at this moment.” – Michelle Harris
• “Focus on what you have this season, instead of what you wish you had.” – Michelle Harris

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Meet Michelle Harris:

As a Marriage and Family Therapist, wife, and mom to two toddlers, Michelle Harris knows how stressful family life can be on a normal day. Throw in the holiday season and you have a recipe for heightened stress, anxiety and depression. But what if we took back the holiday season, simplified it, practiced self-care and focused on our source of soul-saving hope and peace – Jesus!

Michelle has a passion for strengthening marriages and families and helping them thrive. With a Bachelor’s in Social Work from Olivet Nazarene University and a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Indiana Wesleyan University, Michelle has had experience working with individuals, marriages and families facing the challenges and the joys of family life. Michelle and her family reside in Nashville, TN. On any given day, Michelle can be found chasing toddlers, cheering on her college-football-officiating husband, working out at Crossfit with friends, spending time with family or reading a good book.

You can follow her on FB and IG under Michelle Linn Harris and at healthyheartsandhomes.com where she shares all things marriage and family-related.