“When we give ourselves compassion, we are opening our hearts in a way that can transform our lives.” ~ Kristin Neff
The holidays can impact our mental health health in both positive and challenging ways. People might feel lonely or isolated. Conversely they might feel challenged when dealing with family dynamics or just overwhelmed with the number of social commitments. We indulge in foods and drinks we may not normally indulge in and, for those in mental health recovery, the holidays can bring stress to the body and dysregulation. There is also economic pressure around buying gifts which can be stressful when you are on tight budget. The cost of living is very high right now so this has a significant effect on people. Everywhere ads are promoting what happiness is, often connected to material things and particular values around happiness. Sometimes it fits with our values and sometimes not. Often they can make us feel not enough or that we don’t have enough.
Yet people also have wonderful connections on the holidays for many reasons. People connect with loved ones, participate in fun activities, get some needed relaxation time, and/or enjoy good food. This time of year can be something to look forward to. Mostly I look forward to the holidays because of the break in routine, the connection with family and friends, and getting outside of the city. But I don’t love the pressure to shop for so many gifts at one time. Also, while I love the connection and celebration, I also need time for myself, and time to keep grounded in my routines to help me stay well. It is easy to forgo these and as a result my body doesn’t feel so great.
Whatever your experience of the holidays, it is helpful to know if this is a challenging time for your mental health, there may be strategies, tools or special planning that you can do to make this holiday time easier on you.
Everyone has different challenges during this time. I think there are adjustments we can do to make the holidays more mental health-friendly. Here are just a few that I thought of…
- Plan a few unstructured afternoons or days for yourself
- Give yourself a limit on gift spending or make your own gifts. Talk to friends and family about alternatives to gift giving.
- If you feel like it will be a lonely time, what community events might be happening that could fill your need for connection?
- Reflect on what keeps you grounded. I can’t emphasize this enough. Give yourself something every day. It can make a big difference in how you feel.
- Are there general ways to reduce stress? Less travel? Simplifying your to-do-list? Asking for help?
- Include activities, people, pets, and places that bring you joy ❤️
Here is a bit of fun I had with art making this past couple weeks. The colours felt holiday-like.
My messy and spontaneous art is definitely a foil to all the ways I try to have order in my life. There is freedom in this unplanned, and imperfect art making process. It generates good feelings. Red is such a powerful colour that I don’t often use in art because I prefer calming colours. It was great to step out of my lane with a bold colour and see what could be created.
Whatever you do this month, however you honour this time of year, it’s okay to take care of yourself and your mental health. Sometimes it takes a bit of reflection to figure out how you might do this.
I am keeping the holiday posts shorter for my self-care. My wish is that everyone who needs to rest, to shift into relaxation mode, and enjoy the benefits of a slower pace for their mental health gives themselves permission to do so.
A special thank you to readers for all your support in 2025. It felt so good to do a year’s worth of blogging…it was a meaningful journey for me and I so appreciate your support!!
If you ever would like me to write a blog post on a specific mental health topic, send me a message on my Contact page. I want to write about topics that are helpful for those in mental health recovery and their supporters.
❤️ With care and kindness Meegan
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