Even with the joy and happiness of the holiday season, it can be a stressful time of the year as well. However, there are a few things that you can do to help alleviate stress you may be feeling this holiday season. This week try focusing on mindfulness. Mindfulness can help us with the ups and downs experienced during this season. Here are five areas of seasonal mindfulness that might affect you and ways to overcome them to enjoy the holidays.

Loss – Often times we are surrounded by warmth and loved ones during the holidays. However, the holidays can also remind us of the loss of a loved one, or even just the loss of gathering as a large family. It is okay to acknowledge that this holiday season won’t be the same without them or how it has been in years past. This is an opportunity to create new traditions to keep your loved one’s memory alive. Try incorporating new things into your holiday traditions that remind you of your loved one. If you’re mourning the loss of your big holiday celebration with family, create a family Zoom call and even invite family that can’t usually make it to your in-person celebrations.

Self-Care – The holidays are a busy time of year and we find ourselves focusing so much on our loved ones. Especially during these unprecedented times, don’t forget to take care of yourself in the hustle and bustle. Take an extra 10 minutes in the bathroom to exfoliate your skin, soak in the bath tub a bit longer than usual, or practice saying some positive affirmations about yourself in the mirror. Remember, you are important too. Give yourself the gift of self-care this holiday season!

Budget – We all know the holidays can be expensive! Whether you’re buying presents, food, or traveling, you may start to overextend yourself and your wallet. Begin planning your upcoming expenses in advance so that way you can be prepared and more likely to stay on budget. For November’s Wellness Wednesdays, we focused on budgeting and handling money wisely. Refer to last week’s blog on How to Keep Your Holiday Shopping in Budget for tips.

Loneliness and Isolation – This year has caused many people to stay indoors and only physically be around the people in their household. In order to avoid those winter blues, try finding a new hobby or ask your friends and family to check-in on you. A friend may be feeling the same way and a small phone call or text could help you get through this tough time of the year together. Invite friends and family to join you for dinner via Zoom to ‘gather’ and break out of isolation.

Overcommitment – During the holidays, you may be invited by friends and family to many events, virtually or in-person. While spending time with loved ones is important, sometimes it is easy to overcommit yourself. Consider your upcoming schedule and remember that it is okay to decline invitations so you can relax.

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