Thanksgiving is around the corner and it’s the best time to talk about mental health. While this holiday can be fun for some, it can be overwhelming for others. Yearly traditions and get-togethers can create meaningful memories. However, it can also create a whirlwind of anxiety and anger that leaves you more drained than before. This year it will be important to take care of yourself. You can do this by using these 5 practical steps to prioritize Your well-being before, during, and long after the holiday.
#1. Plan with You in Mind
Planning will be the best and first step of achieving a stress-free Thanksgiving. Your plan will need to meet your specific needs to sustain your mental health. Instead of cramming your schedule with obligations, leave some spaces for rest, hobbies, or things that you actually enjoy. Consider your energy levels ahead of time. If 3 hours seems too long and draining for you to stay with family, plan for 2 hours instead. Be proactive with your schedule and put things in it that serve you best. You don’t need permission to take care of yourself. Take some time before the holiday to curate your activities in a way that will help you feel in control, rested, and fulfilled.
#2. Set Necessary Boundaries
Family dynamics often play a large part during the holidays. However, with current events it may be even more tricky this year. Whether it’s a relative who always speaks about politics or someone who transforms into a human podcast. If you know and expect this to happen, it’s time to set boundaries ahead of time. Decide what topics you’re not willing to engage with and for how long you can talk to certain individuals. When your time’s up or they start talking about the election, it’s time to politely redirect the conversation or take a break. You are not obligated to please or talk to everyone, it’s Thanksgiving, not your wedding. Please remember that boundaries are not rude, they allow you to love others while you loving yourself. They protect your mental health so that you can feel present and enjoy your time.
#3. Make an Emergency Coping Strategy
You can be proactive with your schedule and your boundaries, but it’s also important to address stress in the moment. Have an emergency mental health coping strategy that can help you navigate stressful situations. This strategy can include a small journal, some headphones to play your favorite songs, or even a short meditation on hand. If you feel overwhelmed, step away to manage your emotions. They’re important to address so making time for them is valuing yourself.
Another piece of the strategy is quantifying the level of stress you feel. You can use a scale of 0-10, with 0 being carefree and 10 being a panic attack, to evaluate how you feel throughout the holiday. You can then identify the threshold for when you need to address your stress in the moment. For example, a good threshold is 7 out of 10, because it is crossing the bridge from manageable to crisis. So build your emergency strategy, identify your limits, check on them throughout the holiday, and act on them.
#4. Connect With The Trustworthy
Thanksgiving is a time to cherish connections with friends and loved ones. However, it is often best for your mental health to be selective about who those individuals are. Seek out those in your life who support and love you, the people who make you feel heard and seen. Your holiday is precious, and you want to make sure that you surround yourself with others who will respect the value of your holiday experience. Connect with these people in whatever way that fits your schedule. It could be meeting for coffee, a phone-call, or a walk together. During a holiday synonymous with family strife, focus on the relationships that bring joy to your life.
To be clear, this does not mean excising anyone who disagrees with you or holds you accountable. It also does not mean spending your holiday only with people who blow smoke or are perfect. It means find the people who are trustworthy, empathetic individuals who have your well-being in mind. If they struggle to take accountability, weaponize their emotions against you, or cause you to feel unsafe, then they are not trustworthy. Your time is valuable, and it’s important to spend your holidays around those who you feel safe with.
#5. Embrace Thankfulness
Thanksgiving is the holiday about gratefulness, which is not something to be lost in the awful behaviors of others at home or around the world. Take time to reflect on the positive actions of others, words of kindness, and meaningful relationships in your life. Gratitude is a mentally healthy action, and even writing down 3 things you are grateful for can improve your mood. It can also strengthen the relationships you cherish, emphasize the value of your life, and leave you feeling more hopeful for the future. Please remember that gratitude is not just neglect of negative things going around the globe. It allows us to accept the gifts of others and even the ones we give ourselves.
Conclusion
The holidays can be a blissful time if you begin with your own well-being. Start by planning your time with you in mind, setting boundaries when necessary, preparing a coping strategy for the most stressful of times, connect with those you trust, and embrace all the gifts in your life. If you use these methods there’s a chance you can have a Thanksgiving where you enjoy the holidays without a cost to your mental health. The best gift you can give yourself is the care and consideration you would show a loved one. Maybe, and just maybe, this year’s Thanksgiving is the one to be thankful for who you are, and protecting who you’ve become.
Thank You & Please Subscribe!
Reflections 