Prioritizing Your Mental Health This Christmas
Walking with your family through the mall, children are gawking in the windows, the heavenly smell of Auntie Anns Pretzels fills the hall, and everyone is on a Christmas cookie high. In his tenor voice, Andy Williams is coming through the PA system, reminding you, "It's The most wonderful time of the year…" And all you can think is, "SCREW YOU, ANDY!" Maybe you are coming into this season fatigued from a difficult journey around the sun this year. Lost a loved one, the end of a relationship, financial hardship, and other stresses can make this "All is Bright" season not very glittery this year.
The truth is that, for many, this can be the most challenging time of the year. In 2014, NAMI found that 64% of people with mental illness say the holidays worsen their conditions. In addition, a 2021 survey showed that 3 in 5 Americans feel their mental health is negatively impacted by the holidays.
So if you feel anxious about the holidays, you are certainly not alone. Here are a few steps you can take to prioritize your mental health during this hectic season:
1. Accept Your Feelings
The holidays can bring up a range of emotions in people. Sometimes you can even experience seemingly contradictory emotions all at once. Try your best to acknowledge and accept your emotions rather than place judgment on them. It's OK to feel happy; it's OK to feel sad; it's even OK to feel both happy and sad. Give yourself compassion and allow yourself to sit with whatever you're feeling.
2. Maintain Healthy Habits
For many people, the holidays lead to a massive disruption in their day-to-day routine. But maintaining healthy habits like going to therapy, getting enough sleep, and exercising are critical to keeping your mental health on track.
3. Set Boundaries
People like to be generous during the holidays, but that generosity doesn't have to come at the expense of having healthy boundaries. If hosting an event or buying an expensive gift is too stressful, it's OK to say no. It's also OK to limit the time you spend with family that you may have a complicated dynamic.
4. Make Time To Connect
Connection and meaning are critical to our mental health. Make time for your meaningful relationships and connect with yourself through self-care. You can connect with loved ones who are no longer with you through a family tradition or a personal remembrance ritual.
This holiday season — whether you find it to be the most wonderful or most difficult time of the year — I hope you'll join me in taking care of your mental health by accepting whatever emotions come up, maintaining healthy habits, setting boundaries on stressors and making time for meaningful connection.
