It's already mid-November and everyone around me seems to be stressed out about the holidays. They are trying to make travel arrangements or planning a menu or preparing themselves for seeing family that they don't get along with.

That last one is pretty important. I hear it in the hallways of my office: People talking about having to tolerate an awful in-law or uncle or cousin. Then there is a big sigh and a statement about how thankful that it is only a few times a year they have to deal with this person. 

All those negative family relationships could be affecting your health. In the somewhat small study on that link, researchers found that there may be a connection between chronic illness and the tensions encountered with a "family of origin" (as opposed to a spouse).

This seems a little bananas to me. It's hard to believe that your family can negatively impact your health if you have tension with them - even if you don't see them very often. I do hope that there is a larger more diverse study done to solidify the findings.

At any rate, I will just take this as a reminder that family is important. And even if you don't get along with them, you should still try to find some common ground and enjoy the holidays.

What are you most looking forward to this holiday season? Tell me in the comments.