If December is feeling more frantic than festive you might like to take advantage of some tips from UQ Psychology graduate, Dr Rachel Hannam.
“When it comes to family tensions I always tell people to be realistic and anticipate conflict,” Dr Hannam said.
“It’s important to maintain a sense of humour and remember the spirit of Christmas.
“Research tells us that compassion and altruism are key predictors of happiness so it’s great if you can help out a co-worker or family member.
“My advice to people regarding money management is to be realistic, and to think about how much they can spend before deciding what they want to buy.”
An organisational psychologist with Assure Programs, Dr Hannam is running “Surviving Christmas!” seminars for staff at a range of companies around Brisbane.
The program is offered as a one-hour professional development course and provides participants with straightforward, useful suggestions.
“Family conflict, loneliness, money worries and time management are all issues that tend to arise around this time of year and can contribute to stress,” she said.
“We try to equip people with a few stress management tips relevant to the Christmas period.”
Dr Hannam said Assure Programs was the Employee Assistance Provider for a number of large employers, including UQ, QUT, Griffith University, and the Queensland Government.
Media: Dr Hannam (0405 126 485, rachelhannam@assureprograms.com.au) or Penny Robinson at UQ Communications (07 3365 9723, penny.robinson@uq.edu.au)
