Five tips for surviving the holiday season
It’s the season to prioritize your mental health and well-being!
During the annual holiday season, families come together to share, eat delicious meals and catch up on the events of the year while anticipating the future. But through it all, many are dealing with losses, medical conditions, and financial difficulties, not to mention continuing to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic nearly three years later.
Finding ways to avoid this adverse effect on mental and physical health is crucial. Here are some suggestions to help you put yourself—and his well-being—first if the holiday season is difficult for you.
- What is causing you?
If you don’t know what’s causing it, you can’t address the problem by destabilizing your mental health. Stressful or painful memories, strained family dynamics, or the anniversary of the death of a loved one are a few examples of vacation triggers. Knowing your particular seasonal problem helps reduce emotional reactivity, as does making preparations to lessen the stress associated with the holidays. And it doesn’t hurt to write a pain journal.
- Talk to a professional.
The importance of therapy is often overlooked, especially in the black community. Compared to 40 percent of whites, statistics show that 25 percent of blacks seek mental health therapy when needed. As the holidays get underway, it’s critical to remember that as cliché as it sounds, it’s okay to not be well Consult a specialist if you find that you are depressed, worried, unable to sleep or simply in a bad mood when you think you should be spreading the joy of vacation.
- Stick to your budget.
While buying gifts for friends, family, and other loved ones to celebrate Christmas is customary in the United States, it’s okay (and necessary) to keep in mind that you’ve been spending money to brighten the lives of the people you care about for years. all year. Make a budget for next year and do your best to stick to it if you’ve already started or finished your holiday shopping and find yourself in debt. If you still need to complete your purchases, be sure to budget your money and make an effort to stay within that amount. Don’t scold yourself if you don’t have enough. Spend your time working on a DIY project or consider making a local donation.
- ‘No’ is an answer, and sometimes it’s the only one you need.
Here’s something I struggle with myself: “No” is a complete sentence. Letting those two letters flow from your lips can be extremely difficult, even when you know you should. a recent YouGov survey asked 1,000 adult Americans if they thought they were a people pleaser and how they felt about it if they were. Forty-nine percent responded that they would probably or definitely self-identify as such, with 14 percent in the “definitely would” category. Sadly, I belong to the 56 percent of women who would definitely/probably define themselves this way; 42 percent of men do.
It can make you feel resentful and overloaded to say yes when you should say no. Your friends and coworkers will understand if you can’t participate in every project or activity.
- Relax.
Please relax, though it might be one of the hardest things to do, especially as you prepare to host and spend time with family. Some people may ignore the body’s request to slow down and take a break, but I can guarantee it’s not a request. Fortunately, everyone has a different idea of what it is to relax. Making time for yourself is crucial, whether it’s taking a break, engaging in a quiet activity (reading a book or watching TV, for example) or even pausing to breathe in front of the mirror. My favorite? Listening to music!
Remember that the holidays are a time to share love and joy. Some people are experiencing their first Christmas without a spouse, mother, father, brother, daughter, or son. For some, it will be their last celebration. Whatever the case, keep in mind that many people often experience sadness throughout this happy season. Be kind, generous, loving, helpful, and at the very least, extend a little grace to yourself and others.
Happy Holidays!
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