Self Care During the Holidays
The holidays can be a beautiful season, but they can also be stressful.
This time of year tends to stir up emotions we’ve spent months (or years) keeping neatly tucked away.
Memories resurface.
Sleeping grief wakes up.
The pressure to “be cheerful” ramps up.
And all of it lands right on top of an already full plate at work.
You’re carrying the same workload, the same responsibilities at home, plus now the emotions that the holiday season naturally brings up.
Whether it's stress over money (or lack thereof), an increased number of social events, or painful memories of lost loved ones, you aren't alone.
Holiday Stress
According to the American Psychological Association, upwards of 89% of people report feeling more stressed during the holidays.
Common reasons include: feeling overwhelmed, feeling lonely or isolated, struggling with depression, and grief.
And let's face it, when you feel overwhelmed, depressed, and sad, the last thing you may want to do is "put on a happy face" and go around more people. Showing up for work alone may be the limit on your energy.
However, the APA also recently shared a different viewpoint of a common problem.
The Positive Power of Nostalgia
Research on nostalgia indicated a strong correlation with positive well-being. (Sometimes I can't improve on an already well-written article like the one below. The text block is a short quote from the article, followed by a link to the source.)
After studying this topic for more than 20 years, I’ve discovered that nostalgia actually helps people move forward,” said social psychologist Clay Routledge, PhD, vice president of research and director of the Human Flourishing Lab. “It makes people more optimistic about the future, it boosts well-being, it reduces anxiety, it increases positive mood and self-esteem and meaning in life. But more than that, it makes people thankful, and it energizes them.”
Read the full article here: Feeling nostalgic this holiday season? It might help boost your mental health. Published on the apa.org website 12/2023.
đź“Ś One More Thing Before You Go:
You don’t have to "fix" your feelings.
You don’t have to force cheerfulness.
And perhaps most importantly, you don’t have to pretend this season doesn’t hit hard.
You’re allowed to be human.
You’re allowed to choose a more gentle path and to be kind to yourself.
If the emotional burden of the holidays feels heavy, take a stroll down the good memory lane. Nostalgia may be a great exercise for your overall well-being.
