Festive Season unbelievably is fast approaching again and I know that there are many others out there like myself who struggle with Christmas which is often met with mixed emotions and as stated about this time last year whilst it is a source of happiness for some it can be one of emotional distress for others.
Reflecting on this, I wanted to shine a spotlight on this as at times we can forge, am putting my hand up here as I know I did when I was younger albeit unintentionally but I never really gave it much thought that Xmas and New Years could be an emotionally turbulent time for many! I know when I was younger I lived in the moment as I was surrounded by family & friends who have since passed and only in the last 5-6 years have I started to dread this time of year as it just doesn't hold the same meaning it did back then and I become avoidant as it can be painful as I miss them terribly!
Needless to say it is a particular difficult time and struggle for those experiencing grief and loss or suffering from depression, anxiety or stressors whether this be financial, work, relationship or other which is often amplified by media coverage leading up to up to Xmas & New Year as it is a constant reminder of what some of us are missing.
Below are some suggestions that may assist you to manage the impending festive season:
- Practice Gratitude its easy to focus on what is missing rather but even on down days I ensure that I practice gratitude and at end of each day jot down between 1 – 3 things that have occurred or I"ve experienced that I am grateful for! Some days it's not easy to find a positive but its also just as difficult to remain in the negative! So I make the choice to push myself and create new habits to focus on the positives no matter how small, trust me it makes a difference!
- Engage in Mindfulness even if it is 10 mins a day, it can be as simple as being present in your surroundings whether it be an indoor or outdoor locality. Taking time to sit & focus will help to create a sense of calm which can help with negative emotions so focus on being present in the moment making it a technology free zone & focus on what you hear, smell and see in the surrounding you have positioned yourself! It will help to ground you and bring you back to this moment in time, focus on your breathing, letting the stress go from your muscles! What do you smell, it could be a scent in the air, looming rain or waft of coffee? What do you hear, it could be traffic, laughter, call of a bird or a clock ticking? What do you see, you may notice paint flaking on the wall, an ant scooting across your desk?
- Plan, plan and plan, yes chaos of xmas is around the corner but its not to late to start to plan ahead to create purpose across the upcoming days to distract your mind from fixating on the negative. Now is a good time to try activities, classes or social events that has peaked your interest throughout the year! Remember it doesn't need to be a structured activity it can be as simple as making time to go for a walk of a morning or afternoon to feel the air on your face and get out and about! No matter what it is, plan something into each day as it also helps in creating new healthy routines which can last long after the festive hump!
Lastly don't fixated on past problems, squabbles and previous difficult years, instead focus on the now and creating new routines and when you catch yourself out feeling anxious or down reach out to seek support either from a trusted friend, colleague, family member or a professional. They can help to guide you & provide perspective, please realise you don't have to do it alone! I hope the above tips will not just see you through the festive season it will also assist in cultivating new habits and behaviors and some tools you can use when needed to help get you back on track! Wishing you all a safe and peaceful festive season and look forward to sharing more articles with you all in the New Year & thank you for this opportunity to walk alongside you through my articles.
Kim Marsden
