The holiday season is meant to be a time of great cheer, but it doesn’t always mean laughter and joy. Some of us feel the pressure that can accompany this time of year, and it can cause anxiety and mental health issues.
However, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are lots of practical things you can do to practice self-care to enable you to survive–and even thrive– this holiday season. Follow these tips and be kind to yourself so that you can relax and enjoy your holidays.
1. Keep a Gratitude Journal
During the holiday season, it’s easy to get caught up in thinking you should be feeling merry and bright because everyone else is having a great time. Meanwhile, you may not feel positive at all. And that’s OK. Your feelings about the season are as valid as anyone else’s. What’s harmful is letting those negative thoughts spiral and consume your mind.
One way to stop this from happening is by keeping a gratitude journal. Every day, write down a few things for which you’re grateful. You don’t have to share this with anyone; it’s just for you. Then start each day by reading through your thoughts to be reminded of the positives in your life. Very quickly, you’ll see a change in your thought patterns.
There are lots of excellent gratitude journaling apps to help you with the process. Some, like the Daylio app, even allow you to check in and record your thoughts with just emoji and images.
2. Relax Through Meditation and Breathing Exercises
A powerful way to relieve stress and anxiety is through mindfulness. When you are fully present in each moment, you can relax and calm your anxious mind. One way to do this is to practice guided meditation using YouTube channels.
You can do this wherever you are, and it doesn’t even have to take long. You can also check in for a mindful moment on the go with mobile apps. Even a few seconds of meditation can be perfect for helping you cope with situations that can become overwhelming, such as family visits or work parties.
Another great way to lessen your anxiety is to use apps to learn breathing techniques. Deep breathing exercises are brilliant for grounding yourself and reducing your stress levels.
3. Get Moving With a Fun Workout
Eating junk food and becoming a couch potato will only make you feel worse about yourself. Instead, try getting up and going outside for a walk to help clear your head and distract you from anxieties. You can even practice walking meditation with inspiring apps.
If you can’t get outside, why not have some fun with a home dance workout video? Cardio exercise is brilliant for both body and mind, and once the blood gets pumping, it’s easy to leave your anxieties behind for a while.
4. Use Affirmations to Reinforce Positive Messages and Thoughts
Your inner voice can be both friend and foe. So be kind and gentle to yourself during the holiday season, and don’t let negative thoughts creep in. You can take control over your internal dialogue with the use of self-affirmation tools.
Self-affirmations are short statements and phrases you can repeat to yourself to reinforce positive emotions and boost your inner self-worth. Use them regularly to boost your mental health throughout the festive season.
5. Reach Out to Others
If you feel isolated this Christmas, it can help if you reach out to others, so you know you’re not alone. Social media can act as a powerful tool for connecting people. It has been used in several initiatives to bring people together during the festive season so no one feels left out.
UK comedian Sarah Millican started the Twitter #joinin movement for anyone feeling lonely at Christmas, and it has grown to become an established part of the holidays for the worldwide Twitter community.
6. Use a Light Therapy Lamp
If you live in a region where Christmas occurs during the winter months, then your feelings of depression might be caused or made more severe because of the weather and lack of natural light at this time of year. These and other factors can contribute to seasonal affective disorder (SAD), or seasonal depression.
To bring relief from these feelings, consider using a light therapy lamp that produces natural lighting within your home each day. These sunlight lamps can help you combat seasonal affective disorder by restoring your serotonin levels and can have a powerful impact on your state of mind. However, it’s important to emphasize that you should consult a medical professional if you are experiencing feelings of depression and anxiety that last longer than a few days.
7. Relax and Take Time Out for Yourself
However you choose to spend your holidays, if you’re fortunate to have some time off, then use it to relax and make the most of the opportunity to step back from your everyday routines. Movies, TV, games, books—whatever distracts you and makes you happy, enjoy it guilt-free. After all, you’ve earned a rest!
Look After Yourself During the Holiday Season
There are lots of strategies here that can help you to look after your well-being during the holiday season. Whatever you do to take care of yourself, be kind to yourself and say no to anything that won’t benefit you. It could just be your best holiday yet!