Facing Holiday Hurdles … 12 Ways of Christmas Dedicate True Love to your Mental Health
By: Tara Michener
Tags: Isolation, Support, Loneliness, Covid 19 Holidays, Mental Health

Grappling with the Holiday Hurdles of 2020… 12 ways of Christmas dedicate true love to your mental and emotional health.

At a very young age I was taught that the holiday season is not the holiday season without a few necessary factors. I was told to immerse myself in family, parties, dinners, in a nutshell the message was be around other people. Happy Holidays meant that you shared hugs and happiness with others. It meant that you rang a bell to collect donations for those in need. You sang for those who were in need of a carol and you baked cookies and delivered them to those who you cared about. It is 2020. The idea of the holidays that I mentioned above does not fit the safety guidelines of the season of Covid-19. If the season craves social gatherings what do you do when you can no longer gather? I have some ideas to help you to cope as you reinvent this season and prepare for a unique season.

Grieve. This year has been hard and for many of us it is not getting any easier when so many traditions cannot be carried out this year. I implore you to get in touch with that loss. Take some time to miss the things that you miss the most. Write down what you miss the most and what you will miss. If you need to cry…give yourself the gift of tears. It is healthy to be mindful and in touch with your reality and in order to be in touch with reality you have to be real. This is a sad turn of events that your season is not dictated by you this year. You also may be mourning people who are sick and who have been sick and died from Covid-19 that you typically have at your holiday table. Reflecting on those memories and the emotions that coincide with the loss of loved ones gives you an opportunity to eventually heal. Identify what you love the most about the holiday. Do you love eating with people that you care about? Are you enamored by shared public spaces that feature holiday displays? Do you long for theater and movies during this time of the year? How can you adjust your favorite things to make them as close as possible to what you like? If you love eating with those you love… you might be able to share a meal over Zoom or make sure that you can eat at the same table with those in your household if you share a residence. Driving around neighborhoods to look at light displays can be festive and fun but safe. Holiday Trivia online or distance scavenger hunts can bring a fresh perspective to old traditions. Technology is your friend. Your phone, computer and shared media can allow for synergistic fun. Brainstorm ideas that create togetherness in a way that keeps you feeling safe. Create a schedule for the day. If you know what you want to do it is hard to get side-tracked or discouraged in the moment. Plan well. This is especially ideal if you are spending the holiday alone. Planning a movie day with your favorite classics can be a creative but fun way to be entertained and to celebrate. Scrapbooking is a way to be involved wiwth family even if they are not around. It does not really matter what you plan to do but it matters that you have a plan. Create a gratitude list. This is a time where it is very easy to see what is going wrong. Giving yourself the time to note what makes you feel thankful can perk up your mood and remind you of what you have potentially forgotten or overlooked. Tackle a project. If you have you been thinking about organizing your closet or painting your bedroom…this could be an ideal time to give your dream project a start. This can keep you busy but also leave you feeling as though you are accomplishing something that has been on your to-do list for a long time. Identify a support network. Know who you can call if you need to talk. This can be a friend, neighbor or anyone willing to be there for you who provides a safe ear. Have a mental health resource list. This list can include a counselor, organization or group that provides professional help in case you need it. Donate items that you think others can use. Giving of yourself at this time can feel refreshing and can brighten someone else’s season. Get creative. Making crafts, baking or doing something that involves art can be constructive. Make a soundtrack for the season. Find your favorite songs and play them in a loop. Provide help. We have to keep a distance for sure…can you shovel someone’s walk from a distance? Can you shop for a neighbor and leave the items on their porch? This can brighten your season and plaster a smile on someone else’s face. Affirm yourself. Find quotes and affirmations that build you up. Journal. Meditate.

The season can be merry or maybe not as merry but what is most important is protecting your mental health in the best way possible.