Staying Healthy During The Holidays

Nov 21

Myra McNair

How to Cultivate your Mental Well-being Amidst the Holiday Chaos

This time of year can bring on a full spectrum of emotions. Excitement for special events to come. Anxiety over spending money. Sadness about spending the first holiday without a loved one who died. Happiness in seeing loved ones you haven’t in a while.

It’s completely healthy and expected to have a range of emotions during the holidays. In the best case scenario, you and your family are on good terms, and the holidays are a time to look forward to. But, if you find yourself in camp ‘not-so-great scenario,’ you can still find ways to navigate the holidays and keep your mental well-being on track. Everyone can benefit from some simple self-help tactics and ideas on working through some common social foibles that may arise.

Preparing for holidays with the potential for an awkward or uncomfortable family situation

Let’s face it: As humans, we don’t all get along with each other all the time – not even our closest family members. With our differing personalities and perspectives, there are bound to be moments of tension.

Here are a few tips to keep your family get-togethers on track:

Soften your expectations, going in with the mindset that everyone is doing their best to contribute to a happy and fun holiday season.
Remember we cannot change our family – especially over a turkey dinner – so keep the conversation light.
Two topics to avoid in conversations: politics and religion.
Make space for your emotions, notice them and name them to avoid letting them escalate to angry outbursts or crying jags.
If you’re traveling out of town to visit family, reserve a hotel room or AirBnB so you can have your own space (and give your family members theirs, too).
Have a predetermined exit plan (and discuss ahead of time with your travel party) in case things get heated or unbearable.

Finally, it can be hard to put yourself first, but you need to do what’s right for you. If what’s right for you is to sit this holiday out and not gather with family, that is perfectly okay.

Preparing for holidays without family

Sometimes spending holidays with family just doesn’t work out, whether it’s because you aren’t able to travel or your work schedule won’t allow it or it’s just not right for you. It’s important to maintain a positive attitude around spending the holidays without family and thinking outside the box for ways to make holidays enjoyable:

Indulge in the joy of sleeping in, with nowhere to be and no schedule to follow
Go see a movie or watch a movie marathon at home
Take a nice, long bubble bath
Volunteer at a community dinner
Take a vacation somewhere warm
Spend time enjoying your favorite hobby (playing the guitar, cooking, crocheting)
Journal the things that you are grateful for

If you light up a little bit when you think of having some time to yourself over the holidays, that’s totally fine! However, if you think you’d prefer some company, why not plan a Friendsgiving or friends gift exchange? Several of the items on the list above are adaptable as group events.

One last stressor to address when it comes to the holidays: money. You have to be realistic about where you are in your financial journey. Whether holiday shopping or entertaining, don’t overspend beyond your means. Set a limit and stick to it. Eliminate any feelings of guilt or shame for not being able to go over the top with gift-giving or throwing lavish parties. Your family and true friends care most about spending time with you. Your presence is their present.

Remember, there is no right or wrong way to spend the holidays. Take some time ahead of the season to reflect on what will make the holidays most enjoyable for you and plan accordingly. Don’t forget to schedule in moments of self-care. No matter what, take each day as it comes and end the day on a note of gratitude for all the good in your life.

At Anesis Therapy, we believe everyone deserves to be seen and honored fully–not only as dynamic and nuanced individuals, but also as people who are shaped by, and are shaping, their communities, cultures, faiths and families. We meet our clients where they are, and together chart a course for healing that is supportive, accessible, creative and joyous!

Get to know our team and connect with us. We’re here to answer your questions and start your therapy journey with you.