Posted on Jan. 03, 2022
For those of you who hold beliefs around Christmas, the festive season is a time of joy and celebration. Right? From the moment the fruit mince pies appear in the supermarkets ... We associate Christmas and holidays with family, friends and long-standing traditions. We walk and drive the streets looking for the most decorated homes, while loving the sparkling lights on our own trees. We forgive our annoying neighbours for a while and play songs we all know the words too. Smiling at strangers is generous rather than creepy, and the crying children with sticky fingers are super cute with their little Santa hats on. We justify the extra alcohol because it’s ‘Christmas’ and Instagram provides all the evidence we need that everybody’s having more fun than should be allowed!
A reality check! For some, in fact for many, that’s far from the reality of how life feels at this time of year. All the fake laughing is exhausting and the constant need to navigate difficult relationships is overwhelming. Is Kris Kringle actually a good idea? It’s not happy families for everyone and the ‘merry’ Christmas vibes can feel more like a stabbing pain in your eye, rather than joy. Even those who feel strong and healthy, in terms of their mental health, can struggle as the end of the year approaches. The stress of shopping for presents, the work social events and planning the perfect meals can even take its toll on people who are up for everything that this time of year brings. The so called ‘festive season’ can affect you financially, emotionally, physically and spiritually – and not in a good way! If you’ve had a rough year, your energy might be low. Perhaps you’re experiencing grief of some form or still processing the impacts of the pandemic. And this is the time when some people realise that they didn’t create or change what they committed to in their new year resolutions from last year, and life is very much the same as it’s always been. Our resilience to cope with the festive seasonal onslaught can be stretched.
Five strategies for looking after you during the festive season
Taking some time to plan is critical when it comes to looking after your wellbeing during times of potential stress. Consider the environments you’re going to be in and have your strategies ready. It’s often difficult to think logically if you’re feeling emotional, so find a quiet moment to think through what might trigger you to feel anxious or sad. These strategies might help:
Don’t forget to say ‘yes’ to some fun and the people who really care about you. Participate in activities that’ll fuel you and make you laugh out loud. Life is precious and so are you. 2022 is here and you get another opportunity to design what your life will look like.
– The Coach Place Global
Image by @entersge
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