The Christmas season is meant to be a time of great joy, but it doesn’t always mean laughter and merriment. Some of us feel the pressure that can accompany this time of year and can cause anxiety and mental health issues.
However, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are many practical things you can do to practice self-care so you can survive, and even thrive, this holiday season. Follow these tips and be kind to yourself so you can relax and enjoy your vacation.
1. Keep a Gratitude Journal
During the holiday season, it’s easy to get caught up in thinking that you should be feeling happy and bright because everyone else is having a great time. In the meantime, you may not be feeling anything positive. And that’s fine. Your feelings about the season are just as valid as anyone else’s. What is harmful is letting those negative thoughts take over and consume your mind.
One way to prevent this from happening is to keep a gratitude journal. Every day, write down a few things that you are grateful for. You don’t have to share this with anyone; it’s just for you Then start each day by reading your thoughts to remind yourself of the positive aspects of your life. Very quickly, you will see a change in your thought patterns.
There are many great gratitude journaling apps that will help you with the process. Some, like the Daylio app, even allow you to sign 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 a lot of time. You can also sign up for a mindful moment on the go with the mobile apps. Even a few seconds of meditation can be perfect to help you cope with situations that can become overwhelming, such as family visits or work meetings.
Another great way to decrease your anxiety is to use apps to learn breathing techniques. Deep breathing exercises are great 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 for a walk to clear your head and distract yourself from anxieties. You can even practice walking meditation with inspirational apps.
If you can’t go out, why not have fun with a home dance exercise video? Cardiovascular exercise is great for both body and mind, and once the blood starts pumping, it’s easy to put anxiety behind you for a while.
4. Use affirmations to reinforce positive thoughts and messages
Your inner voice can be both friend and foe. So be kind and gentle with yourself during the holiday season, and don’t let negative thoughts take over. You can take control of your internal dialogue with the use of self-affirmation tools.
Self-affirmations are short statements and phrases that you can repeat to yourself to reinforce positive emotions and increase your inner self-esteem. Use them regularly to improve your mental health during the festive season.
5. Reach out to others
If you’re feeling isolated this Christmas, it can help to reach out to others, so you know you’re not alone. Social media can act as a powerful tool to connect people. It has been used in various initiatives to bring people together during the festive season so that no one feels left out.
British comedian Sarah Millican started the Twitter #joinin movement for anyone who feels lonely at Christmas, and has grown to become an established part of the festivities for the worldwide Twitter community.
6. Use a light therapy lamp
If you live in a region where Christmas is celebrated during the winter months, then your feelings of depression may be caused or aggravated by 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 alleviate these feelings, consider using a light therapy lamp that produces natural lighting inside your home every 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 is important to emphasize that you should see a medical professional if you experience feelings of depression and anxiety that last for more than a few days.
7. Relax and take some time for yourself
However you choose to spend your vacation, if you’re lucky enough to have some free time, use it to relax and make the most of the opportunity to get away from your daily routines. Movies, TV, games, books – whatever distracts you and makes you happy, enjoy it without guilt. After all, you’ve earned a break!
Take care of yourself during the holiday season
Here are many strategies that can help you take care of 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 doesn’t benefit you. It could be your best vacation yet!