The holiday season is a season of giving. You likely pour out your time, energy, money, and support to a host of loved ones and activities meant to fulfill the annual promise of goodwill and merriment. Yet, you, like so many others, may feel challenged to achieve and maintain a healthy mental balance through all of the feasting and fun. 

To stave off the overwhelm of holiday expectations, traditions, shopping, and traveling, you may do well to give yourself key mental health “gifts” that can keep you strong and resilient through the new year and beyond. Consider the following mental health gift list below:

Mental Health “Gifts” to Give Yourself for the Holidays

1. Prioritize Your Core Needs and Favorite Pastimes

Combat common holiday joy stealers like self-criticism with self-compassion. You deserve kindness and respect -- lavish yourself with both! It’s perfectly okay to make time for yourself and the things that make you feel productive and mentally refreshed. There is no point to putting these things aside for the sake of the holidays if doing so makes you feel anxious, put upon, or resentful. Take time for your hobbies and preferred activities as a way of keeping things in perspective.

2. Show Your Body Respect

Honor the important link between your body and mind. Physical care is important in general and it greatly improves your ability to navigate the holidays with less exhaustion, fewer emotional meltdowns, and more enjoyment. Try to include the following care strategies:

• Eat nutritious snacks and meals.

• Hydrate with plenty of water throughout the day.

• Refrain from extreme diets or overindulgence.

• Exercise and regular movement to alleviate low mood and anxiety.

• Keep holiday toasts to a minimum and avoid smoking and other drugs. 

• Maintain a quality sleep routine. Resist the urge to sacrifice sleep. Sleep deprivation exacerbates bodily tension and depression.

3. Gather Solid Supporters

The holidays highlight how much we desire to be with others. Experts generally agree that connections and relationships help you feel better and more purposeful. This, in part, is why we seek to gather together at the end of the year. However, your mental health depends on your ability to discern which relationships are most beneficial and supportive at this time of year.

Make holiday plans with loved ones who respect you, your celebrations, and your boundaries. You may even discover that you need to shrink or grow your circle of support to facilitate the best holiday season possible.

4. Fuel More Joy with Novelty, Creativity, and Generosity

It may be that your mental health gifts require less in the way of holiday trappings and more in the way of your unique offerings. Try the following ideas:

• Break with Tradition. Holiday expectations and exhaustion are often rooted in tedious, outdated, or uncomfortable traditions you may be afraid to give up. Give yourself permission to do the holidays your way. Share with loved ones how you feel. You might be surprised to find others are ready for something new too. 

• Create. Is there a creative enterprise that makes you feel good? Do you enjoy writing, playing music, or crafting? Incorporate your favorite activity into your gift-giving or gatherings. This gives you something to look forward to and can help your outlook when you feel overwhelmed.

• Volunteer. Positive psychologists consider generosity to be a key factor in mental health and happiness. Boost your energy and mood by devoting some of your holiday efforts toward those in need. The sense of purpose and new relationships are mental health gifts that continue to give for years to come.

5. Develop Reliable Strategies to Routinely De-Stress

Holiday stress happens. Be proactive and mindful. Check in with yourself often, take a step back and observe your behavior and interactions. Pay attention to your emotions and responses. If you notice that stress is interfering with your holidays and relationships, try the following:

• Spend time outdoors

• Write in your journal 

• Look for ways to infuse more laughter and humor 

6. Pay Attention to Deeper Things

Meaning matters. And the holidays have the potential to put you in touch with what matters to you. Take time to slow down, relax, and tap into your innermost thoughts. Seek out quiet moments for solitude, meditation, and/or prayer. These practices have been shown to increase calm, enhance therapeutic interventions, and promote confidence about moving forward.

7. Be Intentional and Reasonable

Goals, dreams, and resolutions are a big part of the holidays. Give yourself time to thoughtfully and realistically consider how you want to move forward. Gift yourself the space to develop short and long term goals. Plan the steps and share them with nonjudgmental encouragers. Challenge yourself but be sure to prioritize healthy self-talk and a reasonable schedule, too.  From there, enjoy the mental health gifts of purpose, self-worth, and resilience that come with achieving your goals.

You deserve to gift yourself mental health, the happiest holidays, and live a life you feel is rewarding.

For more ideas on how to prioritize self-care during the busy holiday season, schedule an appointment at the Relationship Counseling Center of Austin. To request an appointment online, visit the RCC Austin Scheduling page, or give our main office a call at (512) 270-4883. We hope to hear from you.