6 Tips to Survive the 2021 Holiday Season
With Thanksgiving rapidly approaching, and Mariah Carey coming out of her annual hibernation, it’s supposedly the most wonderful time of the year. However, this time of year can often be fraught with anxiety and stress for many. People who are not close with their families may feel pressure to spend time together and the impact of spending these tension-fueled holidays with family can be a real blow to one’s mental health. Not only do some people have to navigate contentious family relationships, we all still have to be concerned about COVID. Despite now having a vaccine, believe it or not there are those who remain unvaccinated. Below are some helpful mental health tips to get you through the holidays.
1) Take Precations!: Take all the precautions possible to keep you and your family safe. Although it may seem weird and unnatural to continue to wear a mask when with loved ones, if any one of you are not vaccinated or are immunocompromised, doing so can save lives. Wash your hands and avoid coming into contact with anyone who may have been exposed to COVID. If you yourself may have been exposed, do the right thing and excuse yourself from the holidays at home this year.
2) Practice self-care!: It’s essential to protect yourself emotionally, mentally, and physically. One pivotal way to do that is by practicing self-care. This can take many forms but is essentially focusing on activities that make you feel reenergized and rejuvenated. Be it the stereotypical self-care you think of such as taking a bubble bath, having an at-home spa day, or reading a new book, there are so many ways to practice self-care. My favorite ways to practice self-care are by reconnecting with friends I haven’t seen or spoken to in a while, watching a true crime documentary, or getting a good workout in while watching an episode of a cheesy TV show on Netflix. Sometimes self-care simply looks like taking a nap. Whatever ways you recharge are unique to you and whether or not those are the norm, if it works, work it—you’re worth it!
3) Set boundaries!: In the spirit of protecting yourself, it’s always important to instill boundaries in all aspects of your life. During the holidays, this can be even more important. Knowing what your bottom line is and lines you are not willing to cross are essential in protecting yourself. If you know that going home for the holidays usually turns into something more closely resembling a horror movie than a Griswold family Christmas vacation, it may make the most sense to spend the holidays on your own or with your chosen family (close friends, extended family, or your pets). If you do go home, it’s okay to set boundaries if you’re in a conversation that makes you uncomfortable or are being asked questions that make you feel some type of way such as “why are you still single?” or “when are you two having a baby?” It’s okay to set a boundary verbally or by simply excusing yourself from the situation.
4) Lend a helping hand!: If you do choose to go home for the holidays with family, it can be beneficial to stay busy helping others. Does mom need those champagne glasses washed by hand? Perfect opportunity to win some brownie points with her and maybe escape the fam if only for a few solitary minutes in the kitchen with soapy hands. Staying busy is a great way to take a breather when the family dynamics get tense or you’re feeling triggered.
5) Don’t talk politics!: We’ve all got that one uncle, stepfather, or cousin, who does not agree with us on anything political. They like to rile others up with conflicting viewpoints. It’s a trap—do not engage! Nothing ruins a family holiday like disagreeing on fundamental human rights and economic issues. Any other day of the year you can argue the hell out of your case but over the holidays, lay this one to rest.
6) Give back!: Gift giving can be a great way for people to come together and express how much they care for one another. Even if it’s only a small trinket and especially if it’s handmade with love, a token of your affection can go a long way. If you are not spending the holiday with family, it can be rewarding to volunteer for a day at a soup kitchen or doing other similar volunteer work. Volunteermatch.com has many available volunteer opportunities that you can choose from based on your interests and location. If you’re interested in making a donation, Charitynavigator.org is a website that rates different charities and gives tips on donating.
Whether you choose to spend the holidays with family or not, the above tips can be real lifesavers when you’re feeling overwhelmed. I hope these carry you through this 2021 winter season--Happy holidays!
