It’s supposed to be the happiest time of the year, but ironically this time of year also tends to send depression and anxiety rates soaring. Right now is the time to start performing self care that can help you stay grounded, calm, and content through the holiday season. FitClub is prepared to help you avoid three common holiday mental health traps that can leave you feeling less than jolly this December.
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Overblown Expectations. If you’re worried that your Christmas won’t be perfect, you might be setting yourself up for depression and anxiety. It’s not just Christmas movies that may be leading to unreasonable expectations, but also your own social media feed. If seeing someone else’s perfectly decorated tree or magazine-worthy gift spread has you feeling insecure about your own holiday plans, it’s important to take a step back and see the bigger picture. Does your family have unique family traditions that always make everyone smile? Even if it doesn’t look “perfect” chances are that your family holidays are perfect for you. If chasing your own expectations leads you to take on too many responsibilities during the holiday season, try delegating to other family members. Not only does this help you free up time on your hectic calendar for self-care, but it can also allow other friends or family to have a stake in the festivities. How you respond to the inevitable mishap may be what your loved ones remember most about the holiday and taking time to care for yourself will ensure that your response will be appropriate.
Lack of Advance Planning. Procrastinators may suffer more during the month of December than any other time of year. Even if you can generally thrive on last minute deadlines, the lines at the mall or the tight ordering deadlines may cause unnecessary stress this time of year. There’s still time to make a list (and check it twice) to ensure that you have a plan for surviving the holiday madness this year. Doing a little each day to prepare for the holidays will pay off when you realize that you have time to spare that can be better spent with friends and family than a last minute mad-dash through the stores.
Not Saying “No”. Let’s be honest. There are probably several holiday plans that you typically agree to because you feel obligated to do so. No amount of holiday fanfare, though, is worth jeopardizing your mental health. If your schedule leaves you feeling frazzled instead of excited, it’s time to look more closely at your invites and politely decline any invitation that doesn’t excite you. Saying no frees up time to care for your mental health, leaving you in far better spirits to enjoy those activities that most excite you. To be better prepared to enjoy the social obligations you most treasure, try saying no to anything that doesn’t spark an immediate sense of anticipation.
How do you stay mentally grounded and relaxed during the busy holiday season?
