Holiday seasons can be hard for some. Schedules increase, work deadlines press in, and events and parties fill our calendars. For some, they thrive in business and hustle but for others, they struggle to maintain a healthy balance. If you are someone who struggles during the busy holiday seasons, maybe a suggestion below could help you. Let’s talk about coping through the holidays and ways to improve your mental health from the stress of it all.
Self-Care Through the Holidays
Self-care is one of the most important aspects of caring for ourselves. It is important that each of us prioritize ourselves and make time to fuel our minds and our bodies. It is so easy to fill our days with tasks and responsibilities but if we are not careful, we can deplete our bodies of its needs to survive. Planning ahead and adding self-care in now can help you get through the holidays. Below are some suggestions that could help. Do you currently practice self-care?
- Proper sleep is essential for our bodies to function
- Meditation on peaceful thoughts while deep breathing
- Eat balanced and nutritious meals and snacks
- Make sure you are fitting in physical activity
Caring for ourselves is the only way that we will be able to continue to support our families and others. We can only give what we have to give. Deciding that you are worth caring for is an important step through coping through any life challenge.
Setting Boundaries During the Holidays
It is easy to over commit ourselves during holidays. Maybe there is a lot of family stretched out over a large area. You may be expected to attend local events or parties. Schools hold plays or parties that our children participate in. The list of possibilities is endless, but your time is not. It can be valuable for your family to prioritize and plan what events you will attend and what events you cannot. Setting boundaries can be hard, but there are many reasons why we should. Below are just a few examples that could help. What boundaries do you need to set?
- Communicate your needs to your partner and others and follow through
- Reflect on past years, and decide what experiences are most important
- Create a budget and stick to it, maybe make a few gifts this year
It is important to know what your body, family and budget needs and when you are overstepping. Recognizing the need for change is necessary and healthy. It can feel like changing your commitments can be letting others down but taking care of you and your family’s needs are priority. Those who love you will support you.
Maintaining a Positive Focus
The thoughts we allow ourselves to think can affect our mental wellbeing. Recognizing when our thoughts overcome us or are affecting our attitude is important. Oftentimes our thoughts affect our tone and demeanor towards others, and we may not recognize that. If you find your thoughts turn more negative during this time of year, maybe the below can help you cope during the holidays. Do your thoughts shift during the holidays?
- Keep a gratitude journal and add to it each day
- Share the things you are thankful for with someone
- Reflect and show appreciation for the positive things in your life
- Spend time with those you love
- Send a card to someone you appreciate
Keeping a positive mindset can be hard during the holidays. Sometimes family dynamics can be tough to navigate, making it hard to cope during the season. We understand and we are here to help. Upstate Restorative Counseling is here to listen and help you take steps toward healing. Reach out if finding balance in your life seems hard.
Below are other blogs that may help during this holiday season.
Can I Help This Holiday Week be Positive? – Upstate Restorative Counseling
Can Self Care Make A Difference This Holiday & Help My Stress?
