Ho Ho Ho…Holidays… The holiday season can be a mini-retreat for most but for adults like myself, the ‘Holiday Season’ brings with it overwhelming emotions i.e the much dreaded, Holiday Season Anxiety.
The pressure to be a certain level of excited and joyful during the holiday season is REAL. The need to portray happiness on the outside and smile all the time during gatherings is extremely tiresome.
All Hail Tea!
I usually deal with the holiday season anxiety by drowning myself in a copious amount of tea and wrapping myself in heavy blankets. But this time was different, I pushed myself out of my house and went on to celebrate Christmas with an NGO I work with.
I would be lying if I told you that the whole idea of a get together did not overwhelm me but I am glad that I went.
They even had Secret Santa and I got cute stationery! I even met a soul so motherly and heartwarming. She gave me a tight hug which felt enough warmth to get through the season.
Sometimes You Just Gotta Push Yourself...
Don’t get me wrong..I am not telling any of you to leave your cosy blankets and attend holiday lunches and dinner. You may try if you want to, who knows what you may find.
Apart from sipping on warm beverages, make sure you get enough downtime; establish healthy boundaries with your family if need be. Spend enough time doing activities that you truly love and enjoy. I also can’t stress enough on the importance of establishing routines in order to deal with the holiday season anxiety. Getting at least 6-8 hours of sleep, hydrating and exercising helps loads.
Also Read: Of Metros and Mindfulness: Our Thoughts And The Delhi Metro
Express Your Heart Out
Engaging in activities like journaling can also help in grounding one. You can also write an old-school letter or an email to someone you trust, expressing how you’re feeling. It is important to find your own form of catharsis to cope well with the holiday season anxiety.
Netflix And Breathe…
On days that you feel extra low, a meal of dal-chawal (soul food) and a couple of good shows will surely sail you through the blues. My personal suggestions would be Marvelous Mrs.Maisel and Fleabag.
That’s all for this blog, I hope these ways prove to be helpful. I wish you a warm holiday season. Make sure you sip on lots of tea and take plenty of rest.
Do let me know if any of these tips helped you cope with the holiday season anxiety in the comments below.
Sources: Blogger’s Own Experience, Kati Morton
Image Sources: Google Images
Other Recommendations:
- This Pawsome Pet Portrait Makes The Best Gift For Your Pawrent Friend - July 1, 2020
- Pradarshan On Building Habits And Reading: DaWae Podcast - June 29, 2020
- Pawan Rochwani On Content Creation And Artist Community: DaWae Podcast - June 21, 2020
