11 Ways to Get Through the Holidays
While the holiday season is meant to be a time of joy and togetherness, we understand for some, this is not always the case. redpoint Seattle compiled a few of our favorite strategies to help you make it through this holiday season.
1. First and foremost, remember that the 2020 holiday season is going to be unlike any other. Safety for you and your loved ones is key. Even if you feel fine, your very presence at home could put someone else at risk if you are unknowingly positive for the virus.
Adhere to states restrictions by visiting https://coronavirus.wa.gov for updates on guidelines.
If possible, get tested before you head home. A negative result doesn’t mean you can ignore social distancing guidelines, it just means you are posing less risk of transmission. Tests are not 100% accurate, so remember to keep 6-feet apart when inside the house. The dining room table can be spread out a bit.
If you did test positive, quarantine in a safe place and perhaps your family (or friends) can deliver some holiday dinner and gifts to you. You can still join in the fun via videoconference.
Remember, it’s better to play it safe one year, to ensure you get many more happy holidays for years to come.
OK, with the pandemic addressed, let’s talk about some tips you can return to every year...
2. Find purpose within your family. Sometimes it is hard to find your place during the holiday season. If you’re new to Club Adulthood, you’re no longer a child who’s completely free of responsibility, and yet you’re also not fully ready to take over the coveted role of turkey carver. We suggest exploring ways you can contribute this holiday season that make you feel good without bringing on the stress. For example, offer to make the table, bake a pie, or create a center piece – the options are unlimited! If you don’t have family to spend time with, or if you can’t make it home this year due to COVID restrictions, see if a friend can safely welcome you into theirs. You can also find purpose – and community – by volunteering to help those in need.
3. Check in with yourself. The best way we’ve found to avoid or eliminate stress is to tackle a problem while it’s still small enough to manage. Daily self-assessments are a great way to check in with yourself about stress levels and mental health patterns so there aren’t any surprises. We like the standard 1-10 rating scale of mental health symptoms -- it’s simple and versatile! Then, make a plan for how you will incorporate daily self-care to help manage your stress levels – including finding time to get away from your family and enjoy some down time.
4. Connect with your support team. If you start to notice increased symptoms during your personal check-ins, the next step is to get in touch with supports, a therapist, coach, trusted friend or partner. We know appointments can feel like just another task on the list, but we strongly believe that having a solid sense of support – in person, by phone, on social media, etc. -- going into the holidays decreases the likelihood of a crisis.
5. Don’t push it. Sometimes the holiday spirit can inspire us a bit too much. If you find yourself committing to extra work shifts while simultaneously coordinating homemade gifts for the extended family, it’s time to take a step back. We encourage you to find a balance that doesn’t lead in pulling your hair out 😊 -- remember, the greatest gift you can give your family, is your presence.
6. Watch your budget. Holiday season shouldn’t break the bank! Ignoring your budget over the holiday season only guarantees more stress and anxiety come the new year. If the budget is tight this year, we encourage you to get creative with gifts. Some examples include personal notes, a shared experience or even a home-cooked meal. Quality time is a gift in and of itself; gift your undivided attention during a fun shared activity or excursion!
7. Remember to Sleep. While this tip isn’t solely for the holiday season, we think it’s worth remembering. Decreased sleep = decreased tolerance (for ANYTHING). Have you ever noticed how much a lack of sleep amplifies ANY situation? Do yourself a favor and pencil in a few extra hours of sleep this holiday season to help you recoup and tackle the day with a rational mind. Pro Tip: you can even track your sleep using smart phone apps like Sleeptracker.
8. Remember to Exercise. Because holidays are known to make you break out the stretchy pants, we encourage you to add in some extra physical activity. If you’re not big on exercise classes, we encourage to you download an app so you can practice in the comfort of your own home. At redpoint Seattle, we love recommending apps such as “Down Dog,” which allows you to choose from a variety of different yoga flows and experience levels. We also love the “MindBody” app which allows you to register for a variety of different exercise classes nearby just about wherever you are.
9. Watch Your Drinking. If drinking alcohol is part of your friends and/or family holiday celebrations, be responsible and always plan for a night out in advance. Lyft and Uber are excellent options for transportation -- you can even schedule a few hours in advance to make sure you don’t put yourself in an unsafe situation.
10. Plan Your Small Talk. For some, starting conversations is an easy task. For others it can evoke a lot of anxiety. Either way, we recommend thinking of a few non-controversial topics to bring to the table just in case you find yourself in a situation where you want to put the attention somewhere else. Some standard topics we suggest are movies, books, shows or music – new releases or all-time favorites -- it’s non-political and something most everyone can chime in on! Set boundaries with yourself and your family members – about what you can and cannot talk about – leaving religion, politics, love life, etc. off the table if those are hot button issues.
11. Exit Strategy. Ok, we know this sounds a little dramatic but hear us out! Sometimes it’s helpful to come up with an exit strategy for the big holiday festivities. This helps to alleviate stress, both upfront and later down the road when Uncle Bob starts asking you big life questions that you just aren’t ready to answer. Exit strategies can include anything from bringing headphones, in case you need to space out for a bit, to taking a long walk to recharge your batteries. Cliché as it is, you can always pretend you just got a text that needs your attention. Another way to exit an uncomfortable situation is to pivot and change a topic you don’t want to talk about: “Before we get into that, tell me about you! How’s life?”