Do you struggle with the holiday season?

The holidays are often depicted as a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness, but for many of us, it can bring up a range of difficult thoughts and feelings.

It's okay to feel lonely, angry, anxious, stressed, sad or something else entirely. The most important thing is that you acknowledge your emotions and remember that your wellbeing matters.

Why the holiday season can be so hard

The holiday season can feel challenging for a lot of different reasons.

While everyone will have their own unique circumstances, some of the most common causes are:

Financial stress: You might feel pressure to spend money on travel, gifts, gatherings, and food, which can be financially stressful. Remember that you can navigate this period with careful planning and resourceful strategies.

Loneliness: When there's a mismatch between the amount of social connection we have compared to the amount we want, it's easy to feel isolated or lonely. It's important to know you're not alone, and you can take steps to ease this feeling and find connection.

Grief and loss: It doesn't matter how much time has gone by, the loss of a person, pet, home, job, health, or the future you thought you'd have, grief can feel amplified during the holidays. With so many grief triggers around, it's important you take time to acknowledge your feelings and give yourself permission to grieve.

Strained relationships: If you're experiencing estrangement, relationship problems, or going through a separation with kids involved, the holidays can bring up feelings of stress, sadness, guilt, grief, and anger. Communicating with family can be difficult, scary, and overwhelming, but there are things you can do to make it easier.

Change of routine: A lot of us thrive with routines, which is why it's normal to feel out of control or overwhelmed when school, work, exercise, eating habits, or typical day-to-day schedules are thrown off course. It's okay if you need to slow down to make time for self-care.

Tips for managing loneliness

Connect with your friends and family. If you can't see them in person you can connect through virtual meetings or phone calls. Sharing your feelings can lead to a stronger sense of connection.

Volunteer. Giving your time to a charitable cause or volunteering at community events during the holidays can be fulfilling and provide opportunities to meet new people.

Join social groups. Look for local clubs or social groups that align with your interests. Meeting people with similar hobbies or passions can combat loneliness.

Attend community events. This can be holiday markets or charity Christmas events - these gatherings can be great opportunities to meet others.

If you feel comfortable, consider hosting a small get-together with friends or neighbours. Being the host can help you feel more in control and connected.

Engage in online forums or social media groups related to your interests or struggles. Sharing experiences and advice can create a sense of belonging.

Create a list of enjoyable activities to do during the holiday season, like hiking, cooking, or art. Keeping busy with things you love can help you feel less lonely.

Be kind to yourself and practice self-compassion. Understand that it's ok to feel lonely and that self-care is essential.

Ideas on how to connect with others

Make that first step to reconnect with friends and family you haven’t spoken to in a while through a call, text, or message

Reach out to friends and family with heartfelt messages, cards, or handwritten letters to let them know you're thinking of them

Plan to spend meaningful, quality time with your loved ones, whether it's a heart-to-heart talk or a fun activity

Collaborate on a holiday playlist with friends or family members, adding songs that hold special meaning to each of you

Participate in online groups or communities related to your interests or hobbies, where you can engage in discussions and connect with like-minded individuals.

Collaborate on a group project with friends, such as a book club or recipe exchange, creating opportunities for connection and shared experiences

Host online game nights where you can play digital or board games with friends and family over video calls. - Source: https://toolkit.lifeline.org

Did you know?

Overdrive

Because the holiday season often requires us to keep track of and pay attention to a greater number of responsibilities than usual, the brain's prefrontal cortex goes into overdrive.