Maintaining our mental health is important all year round, however there is something about the holidays that can magnify our challenges. So it is extra important to actively manage our mental health. Here are some tips that I hope will be helpful as we enter into this holiday season.
Take a break, and some time for self-care
Actively take some time and actions that are aimed at improving your wellbeing. Taking time for self-care can help regulate mood and decrease stress and anxiety. Self-care can be as simple as allocating time every day to read a book, listen to music, or taking a walk.
Reach out, connect and be kind to others
Connecting with others, and being kind to others can take many forms; such as simply sending a message to a friend and letting know they are important to you. Not only will this have a positive impact on your friend, neuroscience suggest that creating a positive emotional reaction in others can activate the same areas of the brain in ourselves, boosting our own wellbeing.
Stay active
Importantly keep moving; the benefits of exercise are very well documented. In particular exercise results in the release of feel-good endorphins, which can have a positive impact on our overall mood.
Plan your time
Not only does having a plan make the days feel more productive, it is especially important during the holidays and if you are spending Christmas on your own. A plan may include breaking down a day into chunks, such as morning, afternoon and evening. You could plan what you are having for breakfast; allocate time for a walk, some time watching TV, and time to virtually connect with friends and family.
Eat and drink well
The holidays are typically a time of over indulgence, and it wouldn’t be the holiday season for many of us without little extra indulgence. However too much over indulgence can have negative consequences on our physical and mental health, so moderation may be the key to a consequence and guilt free holiday season.
Practice gratitude
Practicing gratitude has scientifically proven benefits on physical and mental health. A simple way to get started is to record one thing each day that you are grateful for, examples on my personal gratitude list include; my health, my family, a safe place to sleep, and the opportunity to help others in need.
Know and minimize triggers
Recognise and where possible minimize exposure to triggers. For example, social media can be a trigger for some over the holidays as we scroll through perfectly curated images others lives. Watching and reading too much news coverage can also be triggering for many. So take deliberate breaks from your known triggers to minimize there impact on your wellbeing.
Know when to ask for help
If you are struggling please reach out and connect with a friend or services available in your community. We are all in this together. Here is a link to support services
Wishing you everyone a safe, healthy and happy holiday season, Much love and Merry Christmas, Sam. Xxx
the psych view by SAM MARCHETTA 