Managing Your Mental Health Over The Holidays

This holiday we dare you to put yourself first and be brave enough to take care of your mental health. Below are some tips we have learned from both experience and listening to the most relatable episode of the We Can Do Hard Things podcast that had all of us proclaiming, "It's not just us?!"

• Manage Expectations: We know it seems obvious, but the holidays aren't a Hallmark movie. There Isn't some magical family out there that has their sh*t together or a stressed out CEO finding love in small town Nebraska. Don't expect it to be "the most wonderful time of the year", because honestly, for a lot of people, it simply isn't.

• Set Boundaries: There is no rulebook that says you have to attend every dinner/ugly sweater/Secret Santa/tree lighting/Hannukah/lets-celebrate-New Years-in-every-timezone party. You. Can. Say. No. You can say no to family, friends, your dog, anybody! And no (see, it's easy), you don't even need to give a reason.

• Make Your Own Traditions: The holidays are yours to define and if an old tradition isn't serving you (or never was), it's perfectly okay to start a new one that works for you. Maybe that looks like a trip to Paris, or a Home Alone movie marathon in your pyjamas. Alternatively, if you're missing a loved one during the holidays, lean into the traditions that remind you of them. 

• Connect: For those feeling lonely during the holidays, don't be afraid to seek connection with others. Whether that involves volunteering at a local shelter or senior home, meeting up with friends who are also solo, or scheduling a FaceTime party (remember those?), there are always options to help make you feel connected. 

In the wise words of Glennon Doyle, "It's your effing holiday...normalize not doing sh*t you hate during the holidays".