Health and Wellness
December 14, 2023
Healthy Boiler Virtual Workshop: Grief and Stress during the Holidays
Zoom
The holidays can be challenging for some people who are overwhelmed with stress or who have experienced the loss of a loved one.
Join this workshop to learn how to manage your stress or process your grief during the holidays as we explore relaxation techniques, setting boundaries, and education on the grief cycle. Presenter: Melissa Covarrubias, CHL Behavioral Health Counselor
Please register by December 14 before the start time. Meeting link will be sent prior to workshop.
Behavioral Health Pillar of Wellness
Handling Holiday Stress and Grief
The holiday season is in full swing in December. For some, the holidays mean gathering with family and friends, creating fun memories, helping others, shopping, or gift-giving. Others may experience additional stress, financial worries, anxiety, and grief especially if this is the first holiday without a loved one.
The pressure you may may feel to plan the "perfect" holiday can add more stress to an already busy life. If you are sad or grieving, you may feel pressured to participate in holiday activities. You may also feel like you have to put on a happy face and not show your sadness amidst the happiness that your friends and family are feeling.
How can you handle holiday stress or grief? Listen to what your body, mind, and gut are telling you. Be aware of what you are feeling physically, emotionally, financially, and mentally. These feelings may be signs for you to step back, examine your priorities, and perhaps set boundaries.
Deep breathing exercises, yoga, or physical activity like walking are a few ways to help restore calmness, refocus, and relax. You can also use your support circles—friends or family with whom you have a meaningful relationship—to help you get through the holidays or to celebrate the holidays in a way that maintains or enhances your well-being.
Visit the Employee Well-being web site for events which focus on physical and behavioral/mental health to handle holiday stress and grief.
- Benefits-eligible employees and their covered spouses should log in to the Healthy Boiler portal, then scroll to Healthy Boiler Workshops. Registration link can be found under the “Healthy Boiler Workshops” section on the portal’s home page. Hover over the workshop’s square and hit “Submit” to register.
- If you haven't signed up for the Healthy Boiler Program, learn more about the benefits you receive when you join and sign up to become a member.
- All other employees may email Bloom at [email protected] to register.
Register by December 14 before the noon start time.