“If you want others to be happy,
practice compassion.
If you want to be happy,
practice compassion.”
Dalai Lama
The holidays can be very challenging for many of us. We may have ongoing concerns about our weight, trepidation about reuniting with some of our family members, fears about work, anxieties about money, worries about life in general, and any number of other things. Life can be tough! The good news is that, even with all this stuff going on, we can keep our mental health strong and vibrant during the holiday season.
We can still find great joy during the busiest of seasons by actively making some positive choices. Joy comes from within, and taking control of our lives brings us both confidence and joy. During the holiday season, though, it can seem like our lives spin completely out of control so easily. There’s always too much to do, and people can be more demanding of our time and energy.
Use the following steps to help protect and preserve your mental health during the holidays:
- Remember the value of quiet time. One of the biggest stressors we may face when the holidays are in full swing is the lack of personal space and time. It’s easy to get wrapped up in everyone else’s drama and not take any time for ourselves. Take time for yourself so that you will have the energy to pour into the lives of others.
- Take a few minutes each day to unwind and relax. You’ll be happier and more interested in doing things with others if you withdraw periodically.
- Find time to pursue your inner peace. Choose whatever works best for you. You can pray, meditate, do tai chi, exercise, just sit and watch television, doodle, or read a book. No matter what you do in your downtime, remember that setting that time aside is vital and restorative.
The Busy Holiday Season is Only Temporary
The holidays require more of your time and effort, but the season will soon pass. Keep your head up when you’re doing all the extra things you have to do. Those extras will only be required for a few weeks. Things will get back to normal and life’s balance will be more easily restored.
If you’re having trouble coping with the holiday season, do the things you’d normally do when the holidays are over. That way, you’ll feel more focused and your routine will be more familiar to you.
For example, consider:
- Exercising each day to stay fit and work off any accumulated stress. A little sweat goes a long way in relieving tension.
- Getting your work done on time, so you’re not frustrated and overly busy at home. And so that you’re not dragging work into your home along with its associated stress.
- Keeping your house picked up, so you have less to do after the holidays are over.
- Eating right will provide your body with the fuel it needs for energy. Try not to indulge in more junk food than usual.
- Planning something special so you can relax after the holidays are over.
- Saying affirmations daily in order to help promote a positive attitude. It may feel silly at first, but you’ll soon see the benefits of incorporating a little positive thinking into your daily routine. Take a few minutes each morning when you get up or before you go to bed to compliment yourself. I add them to the blog periodically, so they are sprinkled throughout the site. But here are two to get you started:
There are plenty of avenues we can choose to keep our mental health strong.
Your mental health and strength are very important to you and to the people who rely on you. Because of that, you have to try to keep yourself refreshed and energized, especially during the holiday season. And, give yourself the time and space to take a break from things when you need it.
Focusing on what matters to us and paying attention to what’s really important is essential to keeping ourselves mentally healthy.
“Take the first step.
You don’t have to see the whole stairway.
Just take the first step.”
Martin Luther King
What methods do employ to keep it all together?
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Chat soon…
Martina
