12 Days of Blogmas | Mental Health During the Holiday Season

Ah, the holidays.

What a time of joy, excitement, & celebration. But let’s be real — the holidays can also be a time of major stress.

There’s increased pressure to attend social events, buy the perfect present (even if it’s not in your budget), eat every gingerbread cookie, & see that one family member who really gets under your skin — all while looking like everything is absolutely perfect on the outside (thanks, social media)!

We are taking care of our mental health year ‘round ladies, & I’m going to tell you how.

Set Boundaries with Friends & Family

We spend a lot of time with friends & family during the holiday season, sometimes whether we like it or not. It’s important that during this time you stick to your boundaries. This may look like booking a hotel room instead of spending a night back at your parents house. It may also look like not engaging in a political conversation that you know will be triggering. Don’t let guilt drive your decision to attend that Christmas party or offer to host one if you know it will cause more stress than fun. It’s important that we are aware of our limits, & find ways to engage healthily with other people without becoming resentful or falling into people-pleasing patterns.

Stick to Your Routine

Lots of people experience stress when they fall out of their routine. Time off work & traveling can lead us to sleep in later than we’re used to, neglect our diet, & forget about getting exercise in. It can feel more stable if you stick to your routine as much as possible during the holiday season, while finding a way for balance, rest, & enjoyment. I recommend that you wake up around the same time you would normally, continue to eat nutritious foods, & make time for light exercise, like a post-dinner walk. Even waking up 20 minutes to carve out some time for yourself before you have to be around other people can do wonders.

Don’t Spend More than You Want To

Another big stress for people around the holidays is overspending. This year, try & budget ahead of time for what you can reasonably spend on your loved ones without breaking the bank or sending yourself into debt. It also may be easier to plan a Secret Santa or another kind of gift exchange & set a predetermined budget for how much each person is willing to spend.

Focus on You

The holidays may seem perfect for everyone on your social media feed. Maybe for you, you’re missing someone you were with last year, feel lonely, or are not enjoying the holiday season as much as you think you should be. Remember, social media is a very misleading high-light reel, & a lot more people may feel the same way as you. Comparison is truly the thief of joy, & it is important to be accepting of your situation no matter what it looks like to someone else. Give yourself plenty of self-love & grace during this one, babe.

I am wishing you the merriest of holidays, whatever that looks like for you. A big part of maintaining mental health is ensuring that we are meeting our physical, emotional, & mental needs. During the holidays, it can be easy to lose sight of that & spend the beginning of the new year playing catch-up, or forcing resolutions on yourself that you know won’t last (read up on Throw out your list of 2023 Resolutions: We’re Writing Goals Instead).

This year, I challenge you to put yourself first & give to yourself what I’m sure you spend so much time giving to others.

We deserve it.