Jingle Well: 5 Ways to Nurture Your Mental Well-Being During the Holidays
The holiday season has arrived, bringing a myriad of emotions such as joy, excitement, overwhelm, anxiety, anticipation, or even a mix of feelings. However, navigating this time of year can be challenging for mental health. The shorter days pose difficulties for individuals with Seasonal Affective Disorder, and the holiday hustle and bustle contribute to increased stress. Social obligations are at an all-time high, potentially leading to loneliness, especially for those not close to their families or coping with loss. For many, the holidays become a poignant reminder of absent relationships, and the pressure to adhere to family traditions can create tense situations. Regardless of your emotional state this holiday season, it's crucial to prioritize your mental well-being.
Taking care of your mental health is a proactive way to manage stress and prevent burnout, providing a valuable opportunity for self-care amid the expectations and obligations of the festive season. This intentional focus on mental well-being allows for moments of rest and rejuvenation, addressing the needs that often arise as the year draws to a close.
If you’re wondering how to manage your mental health and well-being this holiday season, here are 5 of my favorite ways.
1. Manage your expectations:
Having high expectations of how something will go can add a lot of mental pressure. We all have an idea in our heads of the “perfect” holiday, but perfect doesn’t exist. Things will never be 100% ideal, so expecting them to be is just setting yourself up for disappointment. Try to adjust your expectations of what the holiday season means for you. Instead of feeling obligated to orchestrate drama-free interactions, prepare extravagant meals, and present impressive gifts, you can allow the holidays to unfold naturally and embrace them for what they truly are.
2. Set boundaries:
Many people think of boundaries as a punishment or a bad thing. However, boundaries are a key part of maintaining relationships over a long period. Setting boundaries enables you to keep the relationship functioning for everyone involved, instead of letting resentment or frustration build up over time. If you need to set some boundaries about how you’ll be spoken to, how you’ll spend your time, or your personal limits (or something else!), that’s totally within your right to do so.
3. Spend time alone:
Being around a bunch of other people can be exhausting! It’s okay to let your loved ones know that you need space. If you’re worried your family will be offended, remember that it’s not your job to manage anyone else’s emotions. You oversee your emotions, and no one else’s. If you’re having a hard time finding alone time, try offering to run an errand or walk someone’s dog just to get out of the house.
4. Make plans on how to handle difficult situations:
When you’re in distress, it can be hard to determine the next step. Even if you understand something logically when you’re not in a distressed state, when you’re activated emotionally, that logic can fly right out the window. To prepare for this, you can sit down ahead of time and jot down some coping strategies for when you’re in distress. You can keep the list in your journal, in a note on your phone, on notecards, or anywhere you’ll think to look when you’re upset. This way, you don’t have to use extra brain power to decide what to do – you can just reach for your list and start trying the different strategies to calm yourself down.
5. Have a trusted person to vent:
Talking things over with someone else can be a helpful way to organize your thoughts, blow off steam, air your frustrations, and be reminded that there are people who love you and support you no matter what. If you’re worried about how to cope with the holidays this year, talking about it with a therapist can help you figure out how you want to approach the situation and how you’ll cope when things get tough. If you’re interested in working with a therapist, get in touch with our office today.