Gift Yourself a Different Kind of Holiday

(Sponsored content) – The holiday season is in full swing, which welcomes celebrations, traditions, family, and fun. Yet for many people it can also bring stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness, and over-indulgence.

There’s pressure to purchase the most thoughtful gifts, have an expertly decorated home, host or attend parties/gatherings, and look festive (matching family PJs on Instagram, anyone?) – all in the name of the “perfect” holiday season.

The demands can pile on and leave us feeling burned out, exhausted, and falling short of expectations. But it doesn’t have to be this way. After all, we’re in charge of how we approach the holidays.

So what if we re-evaluated how we celebrate the season to prioritize our health, welcoming less stress and more ease?

Rethinking Your Holiday Habits

This season – amidst the seemingly endless gatherings, cooking, shopping, and cleaning – consider rethinking how you approach the holidays so that you prioritize your mental and physical health.

1. KNOW – AND RESPECT – YOUR BOUNDARIES

Ask yourself: Am I overcommitting myself? What is important to me this holiday season? How do I want to feel after the holidays are over? Then, with these goals in mind, remind yourself that it’s okay to: Avoid overfilling your schedule; decline invitations without guilt! Excuse yourself from toxic or triggering conversations Remove non-essential things on your holiday to-do list Ask for and accept help from those around you

2. EXPECT IMPERFECTION

In our efforts to achieve the “perfect” holiday gatherings, decorations, dinners, gifts, etc., we lose sight of what’s important.

“We often set the bar impossibly high for ourselves and then feel upset when our celebrations don’t live up to expectations,” said Neda Gould, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and director of the Johns Hopkins Mindfulness Program.

Accept that imperfection is not only okay – it’s healthy and normal. Give yourself grace and remind yourself of what’s truly important to you, be it enjoying the company surrounding you or attending to your self-care.

3. TREAT YOURSELF WITH KINDNESS

Don’t forget that the best gift you can give yourself is time to relax, process, and recharge. Prioritize your physical and mental health by practicing self-care throughout the holiday season. Even if it’s just five minutes of slow breathing or a quick stretch in between wrapping gifts, mindfully attending to your health can make a difference in helping you navigate the season’s challenges.

Help Yourself Through the Season

The holidays can be a great time to reflect and evaluate how your choices are serving you. Even if you decide not to change anything, the act of reflection is still valuable and can keep you moving forward in a way that prioritizes your mental health.

A trained therapist can support you in re-evaluating the behaviors and habits that may not be working and help you implement healthier changes. Reach out to Sunstone and find the right counselor for you.

It’s the best gift you can give yourself.