The holiday season is in full swing, and for many of us it is a time of joy intermingled with overcommitment. While juggling your holiday activities, consider gifting yourself time to engage in self-care. It is important to set aside time for self-care to avoid negative emotions during the holidays. It is well known that the holiday season generates a number of different emotions, ranging from joy to loneliness, to overwhelm.

Practice Mindfulness

As I discussed in a previous post, self-care is essential to keeping our own reservoir filled. Recent studies have found a relationship between dedicating time to mindfulness to a reduction in stress along with other mental health problems. Mindfulness is where you are focusing on the present, while giving yourself space from the worries and/or frustrations from the past or present.

It may be helpful to make a list of self-care activities that you will utilize depending on how much time you are able to spend. If you only have a short amount of time, try engaging in a deep breathing exercise or try out a quick grounding exercise. One helpful, but quick exercise is called the 5-4-3-2-1 technique. Take a few minutes to look around and identify 5 things that you see, 4 textures you can feel, 3 sounds that you hear, 2 things that you smell, and 1 thing that you taste.

Positive Activities

If you have a bit more time, try out some different activities that will help you to regroup and destress. Many people find it helpful to call and talk with a close friend or relative. Talking to someone will give you both a sense of connection as well as an opportunity to share your experiences. An additional idea is to engage in positive or enjoyed activities as distractions. These positive activities may serve as a distraction from stress and a source of relief from the stressful season. Different types of positive activities that people enjoy include taking walks, watching videos, playing games, or reading books to recharge.

Practice Altruism

Also, research indicates that by engaging in altruistic or contributing activities, it also improves individual’s moods. So, during this season of giving, consider giving some of your time to help others. Contributing may be brief activities, such as holding the door for someone or offering to help them carry in their groceries. Some people make a longer time commitment by signing up to volunteer at the local food bank or animal shelter.

Practice Gratitude

Another option would be practicing gratitude. Studies indicate that individuals who practice gratitude improve their mental health by feeling happier. Gratitude helps by shifting your mind away from negative emotions and helping you to focus on the positive. Additionally, practicing gratitude likely makes a lasting positive impact on your brain.

Take Away

As you can see, the number of activities that you may choose are plentiful and their benefits will likely improve your mental health during this holiday season. You may try out mindfulness, contributing activities, or gratitude. Regardless of what activity you choose, investing in yourself is critical during this harried holiday season.