Pre-Holiday Prep For Your Mental Health - Part Two

Now that Thanksgiving has just passed and as a continuation of pre-holiday prep for your mental health, I have pulled together some tips that may help you have an even better rest of the holiday season this year.  If you are someone who does not struggle with the holiday season and all it brings then this may not be for you.  However, if you are someone who recognizes that they would like to try things a little differently this year, you may find some of the suggestions helpful. 

Set An Intention

If you want this to be a happy and merry season, then set that as your intention.  Intention is defined as what one intends to do or bring about; a determination to act in a certain way.  Due to recent TSA changes, political and social challenges, and general family issues, one can easily get distracted from a desire to enjoy all that this season has to offer.  One strategy I recommend with clients when preparing to deal with events or travel is to set an intention.  Take some time to understand what it is you really would like to focus on during this season.  If your intention is to have safe travels to visit family and friends, set that as your intention.  Once you are clear on what your intentions are find ways to ensure that they are brought about.  This is not to say to be inflexible but to set the foundation and planning to ensure you have great holiday season.  Which leads me to my next tip, Plan or Cope Ahead.

Plan/Cope Ahead

Plan or Cope ahead is a Dialectical Behavior Therapy skill in which one proactively prepares for stressful situations to help regulate their nervous system. Do you get frustrated by long flight delays, comments by a certain family member get under your skin, or does not having the comforts of home while traveling make you feel uncomfortable? Consider those situations and think now while you are in a calm state with your intention in mind about how you may want to handle them. Consider packing things to help pass the time if you get stuck in the airport, think of a strategy to address hurtful or unsolicited comments before you are in contact with that person, pack something from home like your favorite snacks, video game, or book to help de-stress and remind you of home.

Great! You have set your intention; you have your Cope Ahead plan ready. Now you are all set right? Well almost.

Get Grounded

No you aren’t in trouble. However, even the best laid plans can be changed or not go as according to plan, and you may find yourself stressed out.  It happens to all of us.  This may be the time to consider what if any grounding techniques you can use to help bring your stress level down in the moment.  Consider engaging your senses with the 5-4-3-2-1 technique, taking a short walk, or engaging in a breathing exercise such as box breathing.  The key is to find something that works for you that can be done just about anywhere.  Identifying them now when calm and “packing them with you” so to speak can make them easier to access if or when they may be needed.

The above tips will not guarantee that you will have a problem free holiday season. However, they may help you enjoy it even more!

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.