Staying Emotionally Healthy During the Holidays 

Every year during the Christmas holidays we are bombarded with all the facets of gift-giving and socializing, of abundance and celebration. Even in the best of times, pressures can mount as we try to navigate expectations of the ideal.

We all know that this year is different.

A global pandemic has changed the course of our society like a river changing direction. We have been forced to deal with months of isolation and with fear of sickness. This unprecedented stress can magnify the pressures that already make us feel vulnerable.

How do we manage a time that is so unlike previous Christmas holidays and stay emotionally healthy? The answer is quite simple if we direct our focus to the meaning of this holiday and care for ourselves and others as Jesus would. We are his disciples.

The physical recommendations will always be beneficial like healthy eating and adequate sleep but creating an internal sanctuary of spiritual self-care will not only strengthen you but will also radiate to others. This discipling facet of personal emotional health creates a connection between you and the people in your life as the loving message of Christmas surrounds us.

Allow yourself to feel and share the true simplicity of this miraculous season. What do you know about yourself that will calm yet energize? Is it the sound of a friend’s voice? Or maybe a cup of hot tea outside while breathing in the beauty of the nature around you. Give yourself time for these small moments, these gestures of gratitude for your blessings.

You may feel acute isolation as social distancing continues to be our daily routine. You can lessen these feelings by reaching out, by communicating. Phone calls, zoom visits, or even chatting with a neighbor across the yard will make you feel more connected as well as alleviating some of their own feelings of loneliness. During this time, we all have them!

Another holiday season is unfolding before us and quite unlike any other we have experienced. Gatherings may be smaller, and festivities may be scaled back, but the joyous gift of celebrating the birth of Jesus remains steadfast. So, give yourself a break and care for your own emotional well-being by being kind to yourself and others. This gift knows no bounds.