It’s the most wonderful time of the year… right? Well, that’s what the song says, but it may not always feel that way. The holiday season can bring up a wide variety of emotions and experiences – joy, grief, stress, overwhelm, hopefulness, loneliness, the list goes on. In the midst of the holiday hustle, it is important to remember to continue to utilize your coping skills.
Here are a few specific to the holiday season:
1. Plan Ahead. Think about what decisions you can make in advance. Whether that’s what gifts you are getting, or what your budget is, or where you feel comfortable traveling to/from, it is important to think ahead and make an action plan for the upcoming holidays.
2. Set Boundaries. Where are you going? How long will you stay? What topics are on/off limits? What are you comfortable with? Clearly communicate these boundaries to those around you. Boundaries can’t be respected if they aren’t spoken.
3. Don’t forget about yourself. Many of us get lost in making the holidays special for our family and friends, and we can forget our basic self-care needs. Eat regularly, get quality sleep, do something you enjoy just for the sake of fun! Remember HALT, am I Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired? If so, how can you meet that need in the moment before continuing on?
4. Give yourself grace. And a lot of it. Maybe you planned on baking an Instagram-worthy looking dessert you found on Pinterest, but instead it looks more suited for Pinterest fails. Grace upon grace. Remember, perfection doesn’t even exist.
5. Slow down. Don’t forget to breathe. Be mindful. Soak in the small moments. Kick your feet up for a second, you deserve it!
