The holiday season can be stressful. Between the end-of-year festivities, a break from work, a jam-packed social schedule, and balancing school holidays, many people can find themselves worn out and tired during a period when they should be resting and recharging. You must balance fun and holiday activities with ensuring that your mental health and well-being are kept in a good balance.
This article will provide readers with practical strategies and insights on how to enjoy holiday festivities while maintaining and enhancing their mental well-being. We’ll address common stressors associated with the holiday season and offer actionable tips to achieve a harmonious balance between celebration and self-care. So, continue reading to learn more.
Why Self-Care During the Holidays Is Important
As we briefly mentioned above, the holiday period is a hectic time of year. You’ll have to navigate multiple social situations, such as work end-of-year parties, Christmas events with family, and New Year’s Eve celebrations. Even in the New Year, you may find your social calendar is full of various events and activities. Incorporating self-care is vital, and for those seeking professional guidance, online PMHNP programs offer the flexibility to become qualified mental health practitioners who can assist others in managing holiday stress.
During this busy period, you must take some time to find some peace, quiet, and relaxation to counter the busy social calendar. This is especially true if you’re introverted. Although you may enjoy socializing, taking the time to recharge and rest is essential to keeping those internal batteries at full capacity.
A Word on Drinking
Alcohol is a large part of the silly season, with the drinks flowing liberally throughout Christmas, the New Year’s events, and across the rest of the summer. While it is fine to have a few drinks, you may want to pause before you overindulge. Alcohol has negative impacts on your physical and mental health, and no one wants a hangover, especially if you’re past your twenties. You may consider going slow on the drinks to protect your health and well-being. You could have a drink or two and then swap out for water or a soft drink. There are some delicious low or no-alcohol options available on the market now, so you don’t feel awkward or left out without a drink in your hand at a social event.
Find Time for Quiet Relaxation
Even with a busy social calendar, it’s important to find some quiet time for yourself for relaxation amidst the hustle and bustle. This is especially important if you have a busy holiday period. You’ll need some time to recharge your social batteries, and hopping from one event to the next will make you tired and cranky in most cases. You may want to space out your social engagements, allowing time to yourself in between. This way, you can relax in between events and ensure that you have enough juice in the tank for a fun time but with some rest in between. This should keep your well-being at an optimal level to fully enjoy the holiday period.
Consider Fun, Intimate Social Activities
One way you can still enjoy socializing during the holiday period without burning the candle at both ends is to schedule some fun, intimate holiday activities with your friends and family. Socializing during the holidays doesn’t always have to be high-energy activities, drinking, or wild events. You could invite some friends over to enjoy some card or board games, or a movie night, or even something low-key and relaxed like tea and scones or some arts, crafts, or writing.
Fun, Solitary Activities During the Holidays
You don’t have to spend all your free time during the holidays socializing. There are several fun or relaxing activities that you can enjoy all by yourself, allowing you some time and space to recharge and rest during the silly season. You could engage in some art, such as painting, drawing, or sketching. A puzzle or video game might be just a ticket to unwind and relax. You can catch up on your reading backlog or enjoy a hot soak in a bubble bath. Other things you might like to enjoy are watching a great show on streaming, journaling, or spending time in the kitchen baking or cooking.
This helpful article explains how to balance festivities and mental well-being during this holiday period. We’ve included some of our top tips so you can emerge from the festive period feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.