12 Dec How to Make Mental Wellbeing a Holiday Priority
If you incline to feel more stressed over the holiday season than usual, you’re not alone. In a 2015 Healthline survey, 62% of adults reported the holiday season to be often stressful – with only 10% reporting no stress at all.
The causes are various, from spending too much money or eating too many festive cookies, the Christmas holiday can negatively impact your mental health, with feelings of stress, guilt and anxiety. However, there are a few ways to be less stressed and to prioritize your mental wellbeing.
Don’t promise too much. The main cause of feeling stressed over the holidays is represented by scheduling too many visits or events. Learn to say “no” and maintaining a reasonable program. Determine which parties and gatherings are most important to you and politely decline the rest.
Take a break from people-pleasing. For your mental health, try from time to time to put yourself first. Stop being stressed, trying to make sure everyone is happy and everything is perfect. No matter how hard you endeavor, someone will be dissatisfied. But this is normal, so learn to take things less personally and stop take over yourself the negative energy from others.
Learn a deep breathing exercise. Breathing techniques are especially important around this time of year. Learn a deep breathing exercise to practice whenever you start feeling a bit tense. Many years of research support the stress-reducing benefits of deep breathing.
Take care of yourself. Even though the winter holiday can get very busy, be sure to schedule activities that makes you happy. Treat yourself to a massage, go to dinner or simply watch your favorite movie. Do a little something each day that you truly enjoy doing.
Make time for exercise. Regular exercise help you burn off those extra holiday calories but also has benefits over your mental health. It has been proven that exercise are the best ways to decrease stress, reduce the risk of depression and anxiety. Try to do 30 minutes of exercise every day to feel all the benefits.
The best gift you give to yourself this holiday season is to prioritize your mental wellbeing. No holiday is perfect, so better try to enjoy every moment than to strive for everything to be perfect. Pay attention to your stress level and take a break, once a while.
