Caring for Your Mental Health This Christmas
For most people, Christmas is a time of joy and fun. It’s filled with magic, happy memories, gifts, family visits, warming food and drink and pretty decorations. It’s a time where we catch up with friends and family and enjoy ourselves. But for many, it’s a tough time. Many people feel lonely at Christmas. People revisit bad memories and miss the people and things that they have lost.
Even those of us that absolutely love Christmas can find the festive period stressful. With so much to do, it’s hard to take time out for yourself, and it’s easy for your mental health to suffer. In the run-up to Christmas day, you might find that your to-do lists get longer, the pressures to make everyone happy grow, and money worries spiral out of control. Here’s a look at some of the things that you can do to care for your mental health over the holidays.
Avoid Comparisons
One of the biggest mistakes that you can make when it comes to your mental health over the holidays is comparing your Christmas to other people’s. You might see families on Instagram chopping down trees, going on expensive trips, and being with their extended family. You might see people with perfect bodies, hair and makeup dressed up for Christmas parties, and huge piles of gifts that other people have bought.
Viewing these images will only make you feel as though you aren’t enough, or you aren’t doing enough, when in reality, what people share on Instagram is a very polished version of their actual lives. Avoid looking at other people’s Christmas, and if you do, don’t compare it to your own. Just make the most of what you have got.
Prepare a Detailed Budget
Money worries are common at Christmas. They can ruin the holidays and affect your mental health well into the New Year. If you are worried about money, confront your finances instead of simply spending and hoping for the best. Take a look at your income and outgoings and prepare a detailed budget. Then, stick to it as strictly as you can.
Do What Makes You Happy
Another mistake that many of us make over the festive period is trying to make everyone else happy without giving any thought to our own needs and wants. Think about everything that you love about Christmas, all of the things that you look forward to and enjoy. Then, make sure you find time to fit them in when you can.
Stay Active
Exercise is a fantastic mood boost, whatever else is going on. Try to stay active, enjoying fresh winter walks and relaxing yoga.
Talk to Someone
If you are struggling with your mental health, or have specific concerns over the holidays, like coping with loss or dealing with social anxiety, then it’s important that you are looking after your mental health with counselling and psychotherapy and not just ignoring your problems. Catharsis Counselling can offer help and support over the holidays. You can even get phone appointments and video consultations from Catharsis Counselling & Psychotherapy, making it easier to cope with mental health issues when you are busy.
Practice Moderation
Often, the key to good mental and physical health over Christmas is practicing moderation. Enjoy nights out with friends, indulge in festive food and drinks and treat yourself. But do it in moderation, avoiding guilt, dehydration, headaches and low mood.
It’s common to struggle with your mental health over the holidays, since it’s a very stressful time of the year. But you aren’t alone. Talk to your friends and family, and you’ll probably find that many of them are feeling the same.