An Expert Weighs In On The Top 5 Ways To Deal With Holiday Stress
Though the holiday season is a beautiful time to recharge while connecting with your immediate family, that doesn’t stop it from being a bit stressful. While we’re all trying to come up with new ways to honor traditions while physically separated from loved ones, figure out the perfect gifts to give and doing our best to make things as beautiful as they can be during an unprecedented time. To ease some of the burden, we spoke with Amy Morin, the Editor-in-Chief of Verywell Mind, a health and wellness platform that equips people with the tools to live their best lives.
Morin, a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist shared 5 tips with us that will help make this holiday season one to remember, for all of the right reasons.
Check out her healing methods below.
Name Your Feelings
“Whether you feel anxious, sad, or lonely, labeling your emotions can help your brain make sense of how you’re feeling. That can help take some of the sting out of an uncomfortable emotion.”
Reach for Healthy Coping Skills
“It’s important to have some tools that can help you manage your emotions. Whether you find yoga calms you down or reading a book helps you relax, it’s important to have some strategies that help you regulate your emotions. Experiment with a variety of different strategies until you find out what works for you.”
Get Plenty of Physical Activity
“Exercise is a natural mood booster. Whether you get an app that helps you work out in your home or you go running every afternoon, make time for physical activity. It will help you gain confidence, feel happier, and reduce your stress.”
Talk to Yourself Like a Trusted Friend
“When you’re tempted to call yourself names or beat yourself up for a mistake that you made, talk to yourself like you’d speak to a trusted friend. Chances are, you’d be much kinder and more forgiving of someone else. Treating yourself to a little self-compassion is the key to feeling and doing your best.”
Reach Out for Help if You Need It
“Talking to a therapist–especially an online therapist–could really improve your mental health. And while you might be hesitant to take the leap to talk to a professional, trust that what you’re doing is good for you. Just like it’s important to see a doctor to help you take care of your body, seeing a therapist to help you take care of your mind is nothing to be ashamed of.”
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