How To Manage Your Mental Health During The Holidays
Even though Christmas time is the most wonderful time of the year it can also be stressful. So I put together a list on how to manage your mental health during the holidays. It could be stressful trying to find gifts for friends and family if you don’t have a plan on what to get them. You could be stressed if you have to see family members that you don’t get along with. It’s stressful for people who have lost a loved one. It’s hard to celebrate and mourn the loss of someone. The holidays can bring up so many bad memories. For me the holidays have always been rough, but this year I want to change that. I want to make sure I take care of myself so that the holidays run smoothly. So here are my tips on how to manage your mental health during the holidays
How To Manage Your Mental Health During The Holidays
Set Boundaries With Family Members
During the holidays you’re more than likely to see toxic family members. You don’t have to interact with them. If you feel drained every time you see them it’s best to keep your distance. I know most families don’t understand why someone would want to keep their distance, but that’s how the toxic cycle repeats. One person might be forced to forgive said family member so it’s assumed everyone else should. That’s not how it works. So if you need to distance yourself, go ahead and do it. Don’t let the expectation of being a “happy family” ruin your well-being during Christmas. Your mental health is more important than looking like a happy family.
Stick To Your Budget
Just because Christmas is about gifts doesn’t mean you need to spend all of your money. You can easily be wrapped up in the excitement of the holidays and spend too much. You don’t want to regret spending over your budget and struggle after. There are so many times I’ve done a gift exchange on a budget. I’m always the one with the least amount of money but with the most meaningful presents. If you need help with gift ideas I have a list of self care gifts under $15.
Spend Time With Quality Friends
We talked about avoiding and setting boundaries with people, but you also need to connect with your friends. For me my friends are my support system more than some of my family and I appreciate them. If the holidays are rough for you, lean on your friends to help you through it. Call them, or even plan a zoom christmas party.
Take Time For Yourself
If the holidays bring up trauma from the past it’s okay to be a hermit for a while. Sometimes you need to take time for yourself to reflect on your past. Maybe during this time you can come up with a solution to how to make your holidays better. Getting that alone time can make you feel refreshed.
Reclaim Your Christmas
This year for me has been about reclaiming the holidays. I’ve had a lot of bad Christmases and I know that I’m not alone. It’s time to reclaim and redefine what Christmas means to you. It could be starting new traditions or distancing yourself from certain people. A couple of years ago my sisters and I got tired of not getting presents. We only could afford one gift to buy so we each got a different person a gift. This year I decorated my first Christmas tree in years. You just need to start small and it makes me feel better about the holidays.
I hope you enjoyed these tips on how to manage your mental health during the holidays. How do you manage your mental health?
This was so helpful, and a really great reminder to take care of ourselves (including our mental health) at a time when things may not be easy. Thanks for sharing this, your tips and advice is so encouraging!
Thanks for reading Molly. I’m glad that you like it, and yes mental health is so important to take care of during this time.