 | By Paola de Varona, Associate News Editor | | | Thanksgiving is now only one week away. While the holiday can be a joyous occasion for gathering and enjoying our favorite foods (corn casserole fan over here!), it can also be rife with tension between family members who disagree on hot button issues. This year, you guessed it, COVID will be top of mind. | | | Today's Top Story | | How to Survive a Mixed Vaxxed Thanksgiving |  | Many families and friends will be reuniting for the first time since the pandemic began last year. This means many of us will find ourselves navigating tricky conversations about COVID vaccines and safety precautions at the dinner table.
Before heading to any gatherings, family and friends should agree upon certain COVID safety precautions—especially if some members are unvaccinated. If unvaccinated people will be attending, consider having dinner outside, wearing masks, and getting tested before gathering.
But how do you navigate the awkward conversations that will inevitably arise? Experts say setting boundaries is the best thing you can do.
That can look like having a "standby phrase" ready to help you feel prepared. Don't worry; we have you covered. We spoke with New York City therapist Jesse Kahn, LCSW-R, who offered an example:
I know we have opposite opinions on this topic, and I'd prefer to avoid an argument. While we're together, let's talk about something we can all enjoy.
"Offer a new topic, and carry on the conversation in a new direction," Kahn says. | | Know More | | If you have kids aged 5 and older, you should aim to get them at least partially vaccinated before traveling. Keep in mind that the Pfizer vaccine is part of a two-dose series, which means both shots need to be spaced 21 days apart. | | Feel Better | If you do want to discuss vaccines and masks with your loved ones, be ready to address misinformation. Whether or not you'll change their mind, you can always try, while coming from an empathetic place.
To practice having a calm and informed discussion about COVID vaccines, you can check out Verywell's healthy conversations coach. We help walk you through the best ways to diffuse the conversation. | | |  | | Parents are eager to get their kids their COVID shots before the holidays. More than half (60%) of parents in Verywell's vaccine sentiment survey want to get their kids vaccinated—they already have or plan to. |  |  | | Everybody Gets a Booster | | If you live in New York, California, New Mexico, and Colorado, you may now be eligible for a booster shot. Federal health agencies currently only recommend COVID-19 booster shots for certain individuals. However, in the past week, some states have expanded eligibility for booster shots to all adults, given you're six months out from your initial shots. Keep an eye out: The FDA might authorize Pfizer boosters for all adults as early as next week. | | | | This Is Your Sign to Take a Mental Health Day | In recent years, the idea of mental health days has gained popularity. Now, schools and jobs across the country are normalizing taking a day off to rest and care for yourself. It's a welcome change. "The idea that people are encouraged to take some time to attend to their mental wellness is a wonderful game-changer," Debbie F. Plotnick, MSS, MLSP, vice president for state and federal advocacy at Mental Health America, said. "It's what our society has needed for a long time."
Experts suggest you make the most of it by completely disconnecting from your workspace or schooling for the day and engaging in activities that give you a boost of energy. | | | | | | | |  | | In an interview with Verywell, Danielle Roeske, PsyD, vice president of residential services at Newport Healthcare, shares how you can respond when someone presents you with COVID misinformation. |  | | When you are presented with misinformation, it's often our first instinct to correct someone. Focus on what you can control in the situation—your own actions. In some situations, it may be best to acknowledge that person's viewpoint and simply move on or refrain from engaging. | |  |  | Danielle Roeske, PsyD
Doctorate in clinical psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, California
| | | Keep Reading | | | ■ | How Psychedelic Therapy Was Undermined By Abuse. Inverse | | | | | ■ | The Opioid Epidemic Isn't Unsolvable. Vox | | | | | ■ | Why Don't We Have a COVID Vaccine for Pets? The New York Times | | | | | | | |  |     | You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Verywell Health newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here.
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