Christmas can be stressful so we’ve got some self-care tips for you. Image via Adobe Stock.
Christmas is a festive time of year where people come together to spend time with friends and family, to eat, drink and give. But for many people, it can be a very overwhelming time leaving many of us feeling stressed, tired and waiting for it all to be over with. Practicing self-care during the holiday season is vital to keeping your stress at bay. Whether that means saying no to a Christmas event or simply just saying “I’m not OK,”. The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone, we feel it too, so here are five Christmas self-care and mental health tips to help you get through this silly season and out the other side again.
Plan ahead
Thinking about what can make Christmas difficult for you and what might help you to cope is an important part of planning ahead. If Christmas generally makes you feel stressed or anxious or has negative memories attached to it, doing things like writing lists of coping strategies can make a difference to the way you deal with certain situations. For example, if you experience panic attacks, write down things that help in these moments and keep the note in your pocket or wallet.
Say no
Sometimes you just need to say no to people or certain situations. Christmas can sometimes mean seeing people you don’t want to see or attending events you don’t want to attend. So figuring out what situations aren’t going to be good for you and setting boundaries for yourself is an important part of self-care this holiday season. Also, don’t feel like you have to justify yourself to people either, you might feel pressure to explain to people why you aren’t attending a certain event, but you don’t owe anyone any explanation, other than maybe certain situations are just difficult for you.
Connect
If you’re finding yourself feeling low this holiday season, pick up the phone and connect with someone you feel safe talking to – let people know you are struggling. You can often feel like you’re the only unhappy person, but most of the time you’ll find so many other people in the same boat as you – Christmas is one of the most stressful times of the year. If you don’t have a safe person to talk to then join an online community or support group and talk to people anonymously.
Give back
Giving back is always good for the soul and there are always so many people and organisations that need a helping hand. Sometimes giving back to others can put things into perspective for you or even just be a good source of distraction from your own thoughts. You could volunteer some time to your local homeless shelter or distribution centre, or you could donate a gift, clothes or toiletries to your local women’s refuge. If you know you have elderly or lonely neighbours, maybe invite them over for a cup of tea or bring some baked goods over, or foster an animal over the holidays.
Reflect on what Christmas means to you
Christmas can mean different things to different people. It can be a spiritual time for you, a time to spend with family, a time to give or simply a time to take a break. Take some time to evaluate what this time of the year means to you, without all of the background noise that Christmas brings and use this time to focus on what is going to make you happy.