It’s no secret that 2020 has been a challenging, confusing, whirlwind of a year. From the COVID-19 pandemic to the seemingly never-ending unrest in our country, it can be difficult to keep up with our physical, mental, social, and spiritual self-care. For some, the holidays bring a time of joy—gathering with family and friends, traditions, and good food—but for others it can be a time of loneliness, painful memories, and tricky family dynamics. Couple regular holiday stress with the nuances of 2020, and it can be easy to let the season go by without fully experiencing the wonder it can bring. So whether you’re struggling with mental health issues, trying to navigate the holidays during a pandemic, or just trying to figure out how to talk to your great-uncle about differing political opinions at the dinner table, continue reading part one of our three part series on how to make the most of the holidays in 2020.

Holiday Stress—There is too much to do!

One common pitfall of the holiday season is having too much to do in too little time. If you are the one hosting people at your house for the holidays this year, it can be a lot of preparation and work. Buying and wrapping gifts, planning the menu, and making sure the house is clean and ready to go can add additional stress to an already busy schedule. Start preparing early, establish a timeline, and stay organized! I know it may seem crazy to be thinking of a Thanksgiving menu or Christmas wish list in the beginning of November, but the more you get done earlier, the less stress you will feel come crunch time. Then, you will be able to genuinely enjoy the season without having to constantly remember if you have enough wrapping paper and tape to finish up those gifts. Even if you just do 1-2 things each week, it can add up!

Additional tips—buy gifts online when you can, have friends that own small businesses make something special, wrap presents as you buy them to avoid being overwhelmed at the end, set a budget so you don’t feel the need to overspend, and delegate tasks to other family members whenever possible! In addition, if you feel stressed by the number of events going on, pick and choose what is most important to you and your family, so that you can be fully present in the moment. That way, you won’t feel that you have to rush off to the next event and will ensure that you have time to get things done that you need to.

Depression, Anxiety, and Mental Health Issues—Loneliness during the holidays

For some, a typically happy time of year can be the most brutal when it comes to issues of depression and loneliness. A key to making it through the holidays with your mental health intact is to have an individual and achievable plan tailored specifically to your needs. First, assess your triggers. If there are certain things that make the depression, anxiety, or mental health issues worse such as seeing happy families in festive movies or on social media, know those things ahead of time and set up guidelines for yourself that minimize your exposure. You can always reassess as you go if you discover more triggers. Second, make a specific plan. For example, do you struggle with loneliness at night? Brainstorm someone you can reach out and talk with in the evening or plan an enjoyable activity for that time such as reading a book, taking a bubble bath, or cooking a good meal. Almost any healthy activity can be used as a coping skill and it helps to have multiple ideas in case one just isn’t working. It also helps to give yourself things to look forward to so that you have excitement and positive feelings building for things to come. In addition, if you are on any medications, make sure you are taking them regularly and as prescribed. If you struggle with suicidal thoughts or self-harming behaviors always know your options. Reach out to your therapist or another mental health professional if you have one. If you don’t have a therapist (or even if you do!) the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is always open and can be reached at 1-800-273-8255. If you feel that you are unable to keep yourself safe, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

With so much going on during this time of year, it can be easy to let stress, depression, and feelings of being overwhelmed creep into your everyday life, but evaluating and prioritizing your mental health is an important part of the holiday season and can make it more enjoyable! Be on the lookout for part two of the three-part series where we will address navigating family relationships and all the challenges it can bring.

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