As we approach the holiday season, it's important to
recognize that it can be a very exciting time for some,
but also acknowledge that it might bring up feelings of
stress or anxiety for others. Whether you're home for the
holidays or enjoying another adventure during your time
off, here are 5 ways that you can prioritize your mental
wellbeing during this time.
1Accept your needs.
Your mental and physical
wellbeing comes first.
Recognize what triggers
you so you can identify
and prepare for stressful
situations. Maybe it's
holiday gift shopping, or
long dinners with family
that you haven't seen in
a while. Whatever it is,
ask yourself...what tends
to make you physically
and mentally agitated?
Once you know this,
you can take steps to
cope with the stress,
make the situation
more manageable, or
avoid them happening
altogether.
2Set boundaries.
Family dynamics can be
complex. Acknowledge
the imperfections and
accept that you can only
control your attitude in
the matter. If you need
to, find ways to limit
your exposure to people
who trigger negative
emotions. It's okay to
say no to plans that don't
fit into your schedule or
make you feel good. 3Be realistic.
We all struggle from
time to time, and
it's unrealistic to
expect otherwise.
It's not possible to
always get everything
right - especially
during the holidays.
Sometimes, dinner
will be overcooked,
being around family
doesn't turn out how
it's supposed to, or you
aren't able find the
perfect gift for a loved
one. The important
thing is that you take
the holidays one step at
a time, and be kind to
yourself along the way! 4Set aside time
for yourself and
prioritize self-care.
Schedule time for
activities that bring
you joy. Whether it's
reading a book, watching
a movie, listening to
music, walking your
dog, or going for a run...
the options are endless!
Long story short - it's
okay to take all the
alone time you need to
recharge and be your full
self. It's also important
to not pack your
schedule - don't try to
do too much. Making a
daily schedule (yes, even
on your days off!) helps
ensure that you focus
on activities that you
enjoy doing, so you won't
feel as overwhelmed by
the rest of your holiday
events.
5 Find other
ways to connect.
Seeing family and
friends you may not
have seen in a while
can be overwhelming.
If long conversations
or interactions become
too much to handle, try
suggesting alternative
activities that you can all
do together to still spend
time with one another.
Come up with a new
family holiday recipe or
play a game to take the
focus off of any stressful
topics that you want to
avoid.
And most importantly...enjoy your vacation time!!
It's our holiday gift to you.
Your Company vacation days span an entire week during
the holidays for a reason! We want you to take care of
yourselves, and spend time with family, friends and loved
ones during the holiday season. Be sure to take advantage
of any well-deserved time off you have in December to relax,
recharge, and come back stronger in the New Year!
WELLNESS 13