Christmas culture is so embedded in our society that even if you do not celebrate the holiday yourself, you probably know a lot about its secular and sacred stories. On the secular side, there is this Santa Claus fellow who apparently is in charge of an impressive set of surveillance tools that he employs to determine who is naughty and who is nice.
It seems like the guy should need a warrant for that.
But the idea of a naughty and nice list can be useful for a person who is working toward better mental health during a time of year that can be very challenging for many people.
Here are a few suggestions for your own personal holiday lists.
The Mental Health Naughty List
Here are some things that probably won’t help make your holidays merry and bright.
- An overemphasis on traditions: So many folks get caught up in long-standing traditions that they associate strongly with the year-end holidays. But those traditions put a lot of pressure on people—both those who love the traditions and those who could do without them. Finding a way to enjoy traditions without making them a source of stress is a good way forward. So, too, is working to be present in the moment during this holiday season rather than constantly ruminating about holidays past and wondering if they were better.
- Replacing sunlight with twinkle lights: We acknowledge that twinkle lights can be lovely during the holidays, but that does not change the fact that you need access to sunlight to support your mental health. If you live in a place where you can get outside during the brighter parts of the shorter days, that’s a great move. Failing that, a light designed to replicate sunlight can be extremely helpful. In either case, you should be on the lookout for the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder—appropriately known as SAD.
- Blowing your budget on presents: Money is a big stressor in our lives, and that can be particularly true over the holidays if you feel pressured to buy expensive gifts for a long list of folks. Our advice is to think of yourself more as the little drummer boy with his gift of music of his own making rather than as the three wisemen with their frankincense, gold, and myrrh. Listen, frankincense and myrrh might be hard to find and gold will set you back. Stick to simple, personal gifts so that your budget survives the holidays in good shape.
The Mental Health Nice List
On the other side of the ledger, here are some ideas to keep your holidays hopeful and enjoyable.
- Enjoy time with family and friends: Loneliness and boredom can have a negative impact on your mental health, so getting together with family and friends around the holidays can give you a boost. Just remember that you are not required to stick around for a political argument or to stay overlong at a party you are not enjoying. Find the moments that serve you well, and make the memories you want to make.
- Enjoy time alone: If you tend to be a more introverted person, all the gatherings around the holiday can be difficult to deal with. That means scheduling some alone time so that you can recharge is essential to your mental health. But even if you think of yourself as extremely extroverted, taking the occasional break from the hustle and bustle of the holidays can give you a chance to rest and reset. Use the time to do something you enjoy—whether it is holiday themed (like watching an old holiday movie no one else enjoys) or not (like reading the latest thriller on the top of your to-read pile).
- Give yourself the gift of grace: The odds are pretty good that there will be moments during the holiday season that make you feel sad or angry or just stressed out. When you find yourself feeling that way, give yourself a break. The gift of grace is so important—both when you extend it to someone who has irritated or upset you and when you extend it to yourself when you aren’t at your best. To truly experience the joys of the holiday season, you need to be kind to yourself and to others.
We Are Always Here to Help
No matter the season, Peak View Behavioral Health is always here to help you address mental health disorders—as well as substance use disorders—in effective and life-changing ways. We are dedicated to helping you embrace hope as you work toward better mental health. Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Peak View Behavioral Health offers inpatient, outpatient, and virtual treatment programs to meet your specific needs.
