Pre-Holiday Prep For Your Mental Health

Some tips and advice to help you navigate what can be a busy time of year.

The holidays are right around the corner and for many that can mean a full schedule for both home and work. Add in challenging social times and this holiday season has the potential to leave many feeling that this is not the “most wonderful time of the year.” For those that may find it difficult to attend their regularly scheduled therapy appointments due to travel or planned leave, here are some tips to consider during a therapy break over the holidays.

You may choose some, one, or none. The choice is yours.

Hold The Space

While you may not be meeting with your therapist for a normal weekly session, try to maintain the space on your calendar as an important time specifically for you. I typically invite people to use that time to take an extended lunch or dinner. You may also want to engage in an activity that provides you an opportunity to take a break from your day. Whether that is going for a quick walk, engaging with family, friends, or a pet, or spending time doing an activity that brings you joy that you have not done in a while. Bottom line, just because you are not meeting with your therapist, you can still take the time to do something positive for yourself.

Acknowledge Your Progress

This is the time to celebrate your accomplishments you have made whether in therapy or outside of therapy. Whether it is during your typically scheduled therapy time, or some other time throughout the week, reflect on the progress you have made thus far. Especially consider the challenges you may have been facing when you first started therapy. Consider how the current version of you has progressed (or even regressed if relevant). You have made great strides! Then consider what, if anything you might like to refocus on once you resume sessions again.

Keep It Going

Continue to use the coping strategies, reflective activities, and positive affirmations, identified as helpful during your time thus far in therapy. A holiday break from therapy is definitely a time when you may need to engage in those things you found helpful. This is your chance to keep things going and incorporate them into your life in a more personal and unique way.

Take A Break!

Sometimes it may be helpful to just take a break from doing the “work” of therapy. Not to say forget what you have learned but to say, spend time just as you are with the lessons and coping skills that you learned can sometimes be just as helpful. It may provide you an opportunity to strengthen your sense of confidence regarding your progress. If taking a complete break feels too overwhelming consider it information to speak with your therapist about once you have resumed sessions.

I hope you find this information helpful. In the next edition I will continue to explore ways to help prepare for the holidays with more specific activities and strategies to deal with various holiday time scenarios.

Disclaimer The information provided in this blog is for educational purposes only and should not take the place of individual medical advice, consultation, diagnosis, or treatment. Please seek the advice of your direct clinical or medical professional with any questions that you may have.  In addition, this blog may include links or reference third party resources for informational purposes only and should not imply endorsement of the content, products or services.