5 Tips to Support Your Mental Wellness Through the Holidays—and Celebrate Your Way

A lot has changed over the past few years, and things we’re usually thankful for might be absent in our lives this holiday season. Many of us are going through financial turbulence, or have experienced health issues.

At the same time, social media sets up increasingly unrealistic expectations for how our lives should look on the surface. We might see glossy holiday dinners in our feeds, and have these images influence our ideas of what this season is about.

As we head into situations that can be extra-stressful, taking good care of your mental wellness is more important than ever. Below, we dig into 5 simple practices that set you up to enjoy your holidays in ways that align with your values, and that work best for you.

Each of the following practices help you focus on defining your own goals and standards for your holiday, so instead of being influenced by external factors, you can intentionally set the terms of the experience you’d like to create. Let’s dig in.

1 Get clear on what you’re celebrating

Take a moment to define for yourself what’s important to you. What really matters to you, and what would you like to celebrate? You might find that quality time with your loved ones is most important to you, and at the heart of how you want to celebrate. But that’s just one example, and there are unlimited possibilities.

Here’s a few more examples of ways to celebrate: sharing with family and friends what they’ve meant to you this year, setting up seasonal activities that create fun memories, exchanging meaningful gifts, or taking tiny actions, like a simple phone call or text, that express how much you care about loved ones. Defining your own values puts you in control of your experience—so that you’re able to enjoy the holidays in ways that truly fit for you.

2 Take simple steps toward a sense of healthy balance

It’s easy to fall into unhealthy cycles of both deprivation and overdoing it during the holidays. As we head into situations that feel stressful, it’s useful to define ahead of time what’s too much, and what feels like deprivation, so that you’re prepared to step outside these patterns.

For example, you might consider how much time you’d like to spend around loved ones, while also setting healthy limits for yourself. When you know yourself, your limitations, and your history around activities like food, shopping, alcohol, you can define the right amount for you in each of these situations.

3 Plan for thoughtful boundaries

Setting healthy boundaries is a foundation of self-care. And with ample opportunity for triggers, the holiday season highlights the importance of maintaining your own thoughtful boundaries.

After you’ve decided on your balance around activities like food, shopping, alcohol, it can be helpful to rehearse saying no to family members who suggest more or less than you know to be right for you. You might also want to decide in advance which topics of conversation are off-limit for you.

It can be useful to recruit support, such as getting a friend to text or call you, so that you can exit a situation at an appropriate time. The more ways in which you can support yourself with intentional boundaries, the more you’ll be free to enjoy each day.

4 Set yourself up for more physical activity

Physical activity is a major contributor to our emotional health and resilience. But you don’t have to schedule intensives at the gym to get these benefits. Instead, make it a habit to build simple, clear goals that keep you moving throughout your day.

For example, walks around your neighborhood or local parks are a great way to spend time with loved ones. Even on hectic days, simple choices like parking farther from a store can keep you active. Little actions, like these, that increase your steps will add up, clear your mind, and reduce your stress levels.

5 Practice patience with yourself and others

In every group event, hitches happen. Weather delays mess with our travel plans, and last-minute emergencies pop up. It’s ok to roll with the punches, and laugh at things that go wrong.

During the holidays, sometimes the best moments aren’t social-media worthy photos. You can have just as much fun when your pie gets burned as an influencer did making a post that got 10k likes—and who knows, it could even bring you closer to family and friends as a memorable story you’ll enjoy telling for years to come.

The holiday season isn’t about how perfect your event did or didn’t turn out to be. Instead, it’s about reframing your expectations, and going a little bit deeper: how will you be celebrating what’s important to you, and how will you be sharing those moments with the people who are important to you?

When you define your values, it’s easier to make choices that support your vision, feel good to you, and keep your emotional batteries charged with the energy you need to show up for those around you. It becomes a foundation for your mental wellness, so that you’re more resilient, and able to truly enjoy the activities and people you’re with.

Be patient with your progress, and celebrate your successes as you go—we’ll be rooting for you. From our family to yours, we wish you a happy holiday season.