Managing Your Mental Health During The Holidays
Holidays are portrayed as a time where families get together, eat yummy food, sing songs, and create these memories that are cherished forever. It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year.
But for many people, the holidays bring up mixed emotions. Gathering with family members can be difficult because of toxic relationships, miscommunications, or past trauma. Being around certain family members and holding specific conversations can increase anxiety. For some, they are grieving family members which can be difficult balancing the pain from the grief and the ability to create new memories with the loved ones around. And there some, who have a difficult relationship with food and alcohol.
It’s extremely important to know your triggers and limits before gathering around with family members and around the table. And if you choose to spend the holidays alone, that’s okay. Just be mindful of the feelings that come up. Here are some tips to help manage your mental health during the holidays.
Recognize and acknowledge your feelings
Every holiday is different from the previous one, depending on your life’s circumstances different feelings will come up. Leading up to the holidays, notice the thoughts and feelings that are coming up. It’s best to journal to help organize your thoughts and reduce your feelings. If you are grieving a loved one, go ahead and take the time to grief.
Communicate with your partner
If you do have a partner or you are bringing someone to a family gathering, talk to them before the event and let them know your possible triggers or cues. Let them know how they can support you. Also, if you feel like you need to leave early, let your partner know that might be a possibility.
A little reminder
If you are traveling alone to a family gathering, bring something with you that can help reduce your stress. It can be essential oils, a favorite dish that you would like to enjoy, a stress ball, or have a list of positive affirmations written out in your phone. And remember, if you want to leave early, give yourself the permission to do so.
Set Boundaries
This can be difficult because you don’t want to seem like you are being “difficult” or “rude” especially during the holidays. But it is important to set firm boundaries and say “no” when needed. If you don’t want to answer specific questions, you can politely say “I prefer we don’t get into that right now” or “thank you for asking but I rather not answer that. Remember, it’s okay not to attend every holiday event. Saying “no” can prevent you from feeling overwhelmed and irritable.
Be realistic of hosting and shopping
Holidays can easily accumulate a lot of spending with hosting, decorating, and gift giving. If money is a stressor in your life, its best to minimize or opt out of hosting this year. Also, if you are gift giving be mindful of how much you’re spending. There are tons of sales during the holiday season, which can benefit you if you are shopping mindfully or it can get you sucked in and you buy everything just because “it’s on sale”. Have a plan when you go gift shopping. And if you can’t afford gifts this year, that’s okay. You can get creative and do some DIY projects. (I highly suggest searching on Pinterest).
Self-care
It’s important to implement healthy habits in your day to day life but it is crucial during the holidays. Leading up to the holiday gatherings and events, get in some exercise, meditation, yoga and daily walks. Create a self-care list that makes you happy and grounded, whether that’s taking a bath, reading a book, watching a movie or engaging in creative work. Practice deep breathing exercises to help you stay calm during stressful situations.