The holiday season at Springmount is one of our busiest times of the year, as many of the sites we service experience increased foot traffic and extend trading hours for holiday shopping. Thus, it is important to care for your wellbeing and check in with others around you and on your team. It is important to remember that while this period can be a great joy for people, it can also be a period of grief, loneliness, or stress, depending on our personal situations. If you feel these emotions during the holiday season, be assured you are not alone and read on for a few practical ways you can help protect and nourish your mental health during the holidays.    

Practice Self-compassion and Acknowledge Your Feelings   

Reflecting and recognising our internal dialogue and practising compassion and understanding are powerful mental health tools. If, throughout the holidays, you catch yourself ruminating on the stresses of the season or feelings of sadness, try acknowledging the thought and accepting it as it comes, then allow it to move past you. This can look like, “I am feeling really sad about not being able to see my family this holiday season. It makes sense I would feel this way, and it is okay to feel this way. I am human, and the situation is out of my control.” Research has shown that having this type of compassion and self-dialogue can reduce stress, anxiety and feelings of depression. It can be difficult to have the awareness to interrupt a negative train of thought, but next time you find yourself in a place like the one above, try practising this strategy.   

Boundaries   

For many, the stress of the holidays is rooted in the obligations of social gatherings. It is easy to feel spread thin during the holidays due to relational difficulties, painful past experiences or being overextended by increased socialisation and expectations. If you feel this way, try re-evaluating where you can say no, communicate boundaries, and schedule time to take a breather from family time.   

– Saying no is a challenge for many of us, but it is important to be able to do so to take care of yourself and prioritise your mental health. If your family hosts a large Christmas meal and you often are asked to cook many dishes but find this overwhelming, try saying no and asking others for help instead. You may be surprised at how willing others are to help if you ask. Plus, it does not have to be your job to carry this responsibility if it is detrimental to your mental health and affects your enjoyment of the time spent together.   

– Communicating boundaries is another area that many find difficult but is incredibly important if you want to thrive during this time. If you find yourself wishing you could opt out of family traditions as you see them mentally taxing, tell your family that you will join them for portions of the tradition or only for a couple of hours. It can feel scary to challenge traditions, but just because you have always done something does not mean you have to continue doing so if it is not right for you. Much like saying no, setting boundaries and communicating changes you make to promote your mental wellbeing is well worth it in the long run.  

– Scheduling time for yourself or even finding time for yourself during the business of the holidays is a challenge. It is important to take time for yourself during the holidays to ensure you are filling your emotional needs and taking care of yourself in practical ways, like eating a nourishing meal, getting enough sleep, and finding time to be alone. Doing this practical self-care will help your overall mental state as you move through the busy days with your family. Another thing you can try on those full days with family is slipping away to an empty room and taking 10 minutes to focus on your breathing, checking in with how you are feeling and practising the self-compassion discussed above.   

Volunteering   

It might be surprising, but another way to take care of your mental health during the holidays is to find ways to give back to your community through volunteering. Many organisations’ busiest times are during the holidays as service demand surges. Research shows that volunteering can profoundly affect one’s mental health and provide long-lasting benefits in improving depression and anxiety. Below you can find organisations in the Brisbane area looking for volunteers.   

Seek support  

Always seek support by speaking with a trusted friend or family member or reaching out to a mental healthcare provider. You can also call one of Australia’s national 24/7 crisis support services, such as Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyondblue on 1300 224 636.   

From the team at We Care: Wellbeing – we wish you a safe and joyful holiday season.