Have a Mentally Healthy Holiday Season
The holidays are a time of joy and celebration, but they can also be stressful. This is especially true if you're traveling or spending time with family members who aren't always easy to deal with. If you want your holiday season to be as fun as possible without taking a toll on your health or well-being, here are some tips for staying mentally healthy during this festive time of year:
Get plenty of sleep and rest.
It's important to get plenty of sleep and rest during the holidays. Sleep is vital for your mental health, so try to aim for at least seven hours a night. If you're having trouble falling asleep, try getting out of bed (without turning on any lights) and doing something relaxing until you feel tired enough to go back to bed.
If you wake up in the middle of the night and can't fall back asleep, try mindfulness meditation — focusing on your breath can help calm your mind so that it slows down enough for sleep to come easily again.
Eat well, no matter where you are or what you're doing.
Eating healthy can be a challenge when you’re on the go, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some simple tips for eating well and staying mentally healthy:
Eat a good breakfast or lunch every day. You might not pack your own lunch every morning, but this is one of the easiest ways to make sure that you stay fed and energized throughout the day. If your work has a cafeteria where you can grab something quick, use this opportunity! They should offer plenty of options for vegetarians and vegans like yourself.
Use your holiday time to create new memories.
During the holidays, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of parties, gatherings and shopping sprees. This is a great time to take stock of what you've been blessed with, but it's also important to make time for yourself. Create new traditions that will last beyond this holiday season.
Create new memories by:
Spending time with family
Spending time with friends
Spending quality time alone (or with your partner)
Giving back to your community
Exercise outside if the weather is nice.
Need we say more? It’s a scientifically proven fact that exercise is good for our mood, so if you have the opportunity to get outside and toss around a football or play with your dog, do so! It doesn’t matter if you think it’s raining or snowing outside—just make sure to bundle up appropriately. You can also try indoor activities like yoga or Pilates classes at your local gym. And don't forget about team sports: basketball, soccer, football...the list goes on and on! There are endless ways for you to get moving this season without feeling pressured into doing anything crazy. On top of all these benefits to exercising regularly throughout the year (and especially over winter), working out will give our bodies what they need in order to sleep better at night and reduce stress levels during our busy holiday schedules. So whether it's going for a brisk walk around town or hitting up spin class at 7am before work starts—just remember: get out there before bedtime!
Remember that it's OK to say, "No."
When you are feeling stressed, it is important to say no to things that will add more stress. Don't feel guilty about saying no! For example:
Don't feel like you have to attend every holiday event even though you don't feel like going.
If your family wants you to bring something over but doesn't have anything ready for dinner, go ahead and head home instead of spending hours at the grocery store trying to find something suitable while stressing out about what they expect from you (which may not match up with reality).
If a friend asks if they can borrow an item of yours but then seems annoyed when you ask them a question about its return date or condition after borrowing it, don't let their bad behavior influence your decision-making process—just politely decline the request and move on with your life!
Turn off your phone for a few hours every day.
It's easy to get caught up in the chaos of holiday partying and gift-giving, but it's important to take a step back every once in a while. Turn off your phone for a few hours each day and enjoy time with family or friends without any distractions.
Pace yourself when it comes to parties and festivities.
When it comes to staying healthy, it's important to take a break from time to time. "Take a little time out for yourself," advises Dr. David Rosmarin, co-author of The Emotional Freedom Technique: 21 Days to Stress Relief and Well-Being. "If you’re constantly busy with family, friends and work commitments throughout the holiday season, you might need some relaxing alone time."
To ensure that you're mentally healthy during this busy season of parties and festivities, limit your exposure by using your party-pacing skills from Chapter 1 (page 6). Avoid overdoing it; keep the pace slow enough so that you can relax without feeling overwhelmed by too many events or people at once. Pace yourself when it comes to parties and festivities so that they don't overwhelm or exhaust you emotionally—and remember that taking breaks from all the activity will allow room for self-care activities later on!
Avoid alcohol and other substances if you're feeling down.
If you’re feeling down, it can be tempting to self-medicate by drinking or using other substances. However, alcohol and other drugs are not recommended for managing symptoms of depression. In fact, heavy use of alcohol has been shown to actually worsen depressive symptoms in some people.
If you’re feeling depressed during the holidays, remember that it is okay to say no or take a break from social events if necessary. It's also important to recognize that saying no is not the same thing as having social anxiety; there's nothing wrong with feeling overwhelmed by how many demands are put on us during this time of year!
Spend some time volunteering with those in need.
Volunteering with a community organization is another way to give back during the holidays. It can offer you the opportunity to meet new people and learn new skills. When volunteering, think about how you can make an impact on others. You don't need to be a doctor or lawyer; there are many ways that you can help out your community. For example, if you are good with computers, consider helping out at a local library's computer lab or community center's computer room where they teach adults how to use technology. If your skill set is more business related, consider helping out at a local charity organization by organizing their fundraising efforts while building relationships within the organization and gaining experience doing so as well!
Keep warm in the winter months and seek the sun in summer months.
The winter months can be chilly and the summer months can be hot and sunny. This means that you need to keep warm in the winter, but seek out the sun in the summer.
While it may seem like a no-brainer to wear a hat and sunglasses during these months, it's not just how you dress that makes a difference—it's where you go. Avoid going outside between 10am and 4pm when UV rays are strongest (this is also prime time for tanning beds). If you do spend time outdoors, make sure to apply sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher regularly throughout the day (and reapply every two hours if sweating).
Finally, get enough sleep! Sleep deprivation has been linked to increased risk of depression and anxiety disorders — both of which have been shown as major contributors towards mental health issues such as stress or burnout
Don't forget to take care of yourself during the holidays!
The holidays are a time of fun and celebration, but they can also be stressful. The thing is, it's not just the actual holidays that are stressful; it's all the stuff leading up to them! You have to find gifts for all your family members. You have to try and please everyone with your food choices. You might be worried about getting out of debt before next year rolls around, so you're looking at ways to cut costs on everything from decorating to gift giving.
It's important that you don't forget to take care of yourself during this season of good will! Here are some ideas for how you can make sure you're doing more than just surviving:
Conclusion
I hope this list has been helpful for you. Remember, it’s difficult to stay mentally healthy during the holidays, but it can be done with a little planning and some willpower. You don’t have to be perfect—just try your best! And remember: if you need help from someone who understands what you're going through (or just wants to talk), reach out now or later. You never know when the right person will come along at just the right time...