How to Handle the Holidays.. We talk about how you can support your…
By: Kelsey Mulcahy
Tags: Chirstmas, University, Students, Mental Health, Holidays

Holidays can be hard at the best of times. Here are our top tips for coping this holiday season and managing your mental health after a challenging year.

Let’s face it, holiday season can be tough. We don’t want to admit that the season of joy and goodwill sometimes doesn’t live up to it’s name, but the truth is sometimes, perhaps even often, it doesn’t. This year things are, well pretty different to normal and we’re willing to bet that lots of you are feeling pretty done with 2020.

It might surprise you to know that holiday seasons for everyone can be some of the most difficult times of the year. The pressure is often on to have a great time, which in itself can make you wonder whether your holiday plans are good enough, fun enough or magical enough, especially when we’re surrounded with adverts, instagram posts and images of ‘perfect’ celebrations.

The reality is though that for many (if not all!) people this simply isn’t the case. Holidays bring up all sorts of feelings, memories and emotions. They break our routines, challenge us to spend more time with family and can pile on pressure financially too.

You might be feeling a little down on celebrating this year and that’s okay. It’s okay if you’re feeling low, anxious, stressed and like the rug has been well and truly pulled from under your feet. It’s okay if you don’t feel like you’ve hit your potential this year, that you have lost motivation, that your spark has gone a little bit. It’s okay to feel all of these things. It’s also okay if you to still want to celebrate the good that’s happened this year or to switch off, put everything behind you and kick back for a few days.

Take it from us, however you feel you are not alone!

So how can you make the most of this holiday season and come out the other side feeling rested and ready to forge ahead into a new year? Here’s our top tips for how to make the most of the holidays this year, whatever they might look like for you.

Take a break.

It’s been a long year. And whilst there is plenty of good that has happened this year it’s also been really challenging and as a student your life will have almost certainly changed in ways that you didn’t expect. Well done for getting through it firstly, that in itself is a feat. You probably need some downtime now and maybe even some time to reflect and get your head around everything that has happened for you this year.

Holidays, as much as a time to celebrate, can also be a time to take a break. So take this opportunity to rest your body and mind. Use the holiday season to recharge. Take some time to do the things you love to do, replenish and recover and to find time to unwind from whatever is causing you stress. Leave it behind for just a day or two, you will feel more energised and ready to tackle things once you’ve taken a break.

Tell someone how you’re feeling.

Talking about how we really feel is by no means easy. But, as cheesy as it might sound, we’re all better together, and sharing your feelings can make a world of a difference. Like, the kind of difference where you don’t feel as bad about stuff and realize it’s not just you feeling this way, and it can and does get better. Whether you talk to a friend, family member or jump on to talk with the TalkCampus and TalkLife communities, don’t go it alone. We could all use a little support every now and again. Sharing how you’re really feeling, even if you just write it down stops it from getting stuck in your head and helps you to process those feelings.

Be Thankful.

We’re probably being a bit obvious here but it’s a valid point. Even when life gets really hard there is still good in the world and things to be thankful for. Take a moment to think of a few, keep them close to you. Use this time to reflect and if you can think of what you can take away and learn from this year or any years that haven’t quite gone as you hoped. We often get caught up in tradition and the commercial hype of modern day celebrations but really these occasions exist because we need times in the year to remind ourselves of the good in our lives, to celebrate what we have and to be thankful.

Don’t throw your routine out the window!

As tempting as it might be to break from all routine, just consider that keeping some of your daily rituals the same throughout the holidays can help ground you and give you a sense of familiarity that can be really supportive, especially if you’re feeling run down. Your body will thank you for feeding it things it expects and recognises and keeping somewhat to sleep and exercise routines. Don’t feel pressured to over celebrate, over indulge and be influenced too much by those around you. Stick to what feels good to you. Remember this is your break too.

And finally, breathe and remember this is just one year.

If the next few weeks don’t go as you’d hoped, just stay present. Take a deep breath. This is one year in many, will you remember it in five years time? Perhaps you will but there will be many more celebrations, holidays, and ups and downs before then. This is just one year and time will move on, you will move on and things will change. Life is full of twists and turns, ups and and downs. You have more strength than you realise and will have learned so much from your experiences this year, even if it doesn’t feel like it.

You’re not alone.

One of the most challenging things about having these feelings is that we so rarely talk about how things really are. We can all be fooled into thinking that everyone is celebrating and having the time of their lives. But that simply isn’t true and behind the scenes everyone is struggling with their own battles. It’s just that those battles look a little different for each of us or come at different times.

So remember this: it’s okay to share that maybe, for you, right now isn’t feeling that great. That maybe, for you, the holidays can feel a little lonely. That you feel anxious, low or that life isn’t working out how you hoped right now.

And if you need us we’re right here to chat, share, vent or just walk alongside you for a bit, anytime of day or night whatever day of the year it is. x