2020 will bring a vastly different Christmas to many of us due to Covid-19, and the restrictions we find ourselves under.
In this article, we will look at ways to stay mentally well over the festive period.
You may be someone who has found Christmas difficult in the past for a variety of reasons, so this year is no different, or it could seem even harder.
Things such as bereavement, a relationship ending, financial problems, loneliness and difficulty accessing support services, can all impact more on our mental health at Christmas time.
If you like to hide away for Christmas Day and stay in your PJ’s watching movies, then this is your year. However, if your Christmas celebrations involve mixing socially, meeting family and friends for drinks and meals, then this year is going to fall short for you, depending on the tier your local area comes under.
You may be forced to choose between family members that you can celebrate with on Christmas Day. You may not be able to see someone at the last minute if self-isolation is required by them or yourself. Travel plans could be cancelled. You may not be able to afford your usual Christmas due to your finances being low due to job uncertainty or redundancy.
All of this can be exhausting and stressful, which may add to the disappointment 2020 has already presented you with.
We need to act this Christmas to stay mentally well throughout. Here are some things to try:
- If there are friends or colleagues that you usually share a Christmas night out with, plan a time and way of connecting such as Skype or Zoom, then enjoy a meal together, whilst having a toast to the season.
- If you would usually attend a carol concert, find out when you can watch one on the television, or is there a virtual choir that you could join in with?
- Take extra time wrapping gifts for those that you can’t be with. And arrange when you can drop them off on their doorstep – seeing their face when they open the door to a beautifully wrapped gift will be a truly special moment.
- Get active and go for a walk with people in your bubble when it’s just getting dark. Discover where you can see the best Christmas window displays or lights. If you are with children, you could score them out of ten and decide on the best house on each new route that you try.
- Whilst you have some extra time off, connect with the people you haven’t spoken to in a while. Arrange a time to phone them and make a nice hot drink to enjoy while you chat together. Or simply reply to a text message by phoning them there and then. Even if they don’t have a long time to talk it will be a lovely surprise for them, and well worth the effort.
- Go for a mindful walk and using all your senses, notice everything around you. What can you see, hear, smell, touch, and taste? Discover life with no rush, and no need to be somewhere else. Try to ignore phone calls and social media throughout this time, and don’t wear headphones as listening to the radio or music can distract you, and take you away from being completely present, giving your full and undivided attention to nature.
- Cook a new recipe or learn something new whilst you have the extra time. You may find that you want to continue this in the future. You could be surprised at what you could achieve. We all have talents, so learning to play an instrument, or a foreign language, or even trying out your artistic skills can open a whole new experience for you. And you are never too old to try something new!
- Put pen to paper and write about some of the memorable positive occasions the year has brought. Reflection can focus on the positives and even show how resilient you have been. Ask mutual friends to do the same and share with the group so you can all celebrate the highs and lows together. You may decide to include the letter in each Christmas card or email, with a few photos to show some significant events. People love to receive things that have taken time and effort to produce. It can make them feel more valued as a friend. Once again, this can be an enjoyable and cathartic experience for you – spreading warmth, love, and kindness to others in your life.
- Keep a good routine if you have time off over Christmas, particularly if this has helped you cope through the pandemic so far. Eating well, sleeping well, and exercising regularly, will all help you stay mentally and physically healthy into 2021. We all indulge in treats over this time, and may enjoy turning off the alarm clock, but ensure there is some sense of normality on some days, so it isn’t too difficult to resume your routine.