The holidays are here. Time to relax, spend time with family, and indulge in all the sweet treats. However, relaxation during the holiday season can be impossible for some. If you are worried about seeing certain family members, this blog is for you. Remember that you cannot please everyone. Nobody is perfect. We all have something going on that hinders the holiday spirit, and seasonal depression is all too real. Here are some quick tips to keep your mental health strong when getting together with family and friends this holiday season.
First, remember to set boundaries. Learn how to say no and be assertive without being arrogant. Safeguard your space both physically and emotionally. Know from the start what you can take on. Feelings of discomfort, overwhelm, or resentment often indicates that you have over-reached a boundary. You cannot make people respect you, but you can control how you react to them. Limit how much time and energy you will give certain people. If someone is making you feel those negative feelings, remove yourself from that situation and engage with someone else on a more positive level.
Venting it out will help. Do not keep all those emotions bottled up. Have someone close that you can call or text when you feel overwhelmed. Go for a quick walk, get some fresh air, and call that person.
If you can’t get outside, try some grounding exercises before, during, and after the visits. Grounding exercises include some deep breathing exercises and yoga poses. A popular grounding exercise that many therapists use is called the five senses technique:
- five things you can see
- four things you can physically feel
- three things you can hear
- two things you can smell
- one thing you can taste
This technique will help you to shift your focus to the present moment and away from what is causing you to be anxious. Deep breathing will also help. Take some time away and take ten deep breaths. Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Pay attention to your body and where you feel tension building up. Imagine a white light that begins to fill your body up from the toes to the head—taking each section of the body and having that deep breath fill it with white light. You’ll start to feel the tension and anxiety melt away and can resume in enjoyment with your family and the holiday cheer.
Gratitude will always make you feel better. Make a gratitude list of those toxic family members, so you lead with love and empathy instead of resentment and hate. An attitude of gratitude will work every time.
Remember, the holiday season is not always picture-perfect. Grief and the loss of a loved one are too real for many people. Your emotions and feelings are valid, and the love is never forgotten. Take time to feel their spirit and the good memories you had together. Please light a candle for them to keep their energy close to you during this season.
We hope this gives you some light during the darker month of December with a positive mindset so you can have a bright and joyful holiday season.
