Men and Mental Health – Keeping Your Mental Health Strong During the Holidays
This men’s mental health topic is part of the Men and Mental Health series. It provides some strategies to help you maintain and keep your mental health a priority over these holidays. As always, please seek professional help if required.
Keeping Your Mental Health Strong During the Holidays
The holidays can be a very challenging time for men and mental health. Concerns about certain family members, work, money, and all kinds of other things can play havoc with our mental and emotional wellbeing. The good news is that, even with all these concerns, you can keep your mental health strong and vibrant during the holidays.
You can have great joy during the busiest of times with some positive choices.
Even though taking control of your life brings you both confidence and joy, during the holiday season it can seem like your life gets out of control very easily. There’s always so much to do, and people are generally more demanding of your time and energy.
Here are a few effective strategies to protect and preserve your mental health during the holidays:
- Remember the value of quiet time. One of the biggest stressors you may have to deal with when the holidays are in full swing is the lack of personal time. It’s easy to get wrapped up in everyone else’s drama and not take any time for yourself. Take time for yourself so you have the energy to pour into others.
- Remember to unwind and relax each day. You’ll be happier and more interested in doing things with others.
- Find time to pursue your inner peace. You can pray, meditate, exercise, or just sit and watch some television or read a book. No matter what you do in your downtime, remember that having that time is vital.
- Watch your alcohol intake. Be While alcohol may temporarily make you feel happier, studies have shown that excessive drinking can negatively affect our thoughts and feelings.
- Keep active: Regular exercise releases endorphins which trigger positive feelings in the body. This helps to lift your mood, reduce stress and increases energy.
- Make time for family and friends: Christmas is usually the time of year when we socialize a lot more and catch up with friends and family. Spending time with people you like and feel comfortable with has a positive impact on your mood which is always good.
The Busy Holiday Season is Only Temporary
Remember, Christmas and new year’s will soon pass, so keep your head up when you’re doing the extra things you have to do. Those extras will only be required for a few weeks and things will be back to normal, and your life’s balance will be more easily restored.
If you’re having trouble coping with the holiday season, do the things you’d normally do when the holidays are over. That way, you’ll feel more focused, and your routine will be more familiar to you. In addition to the above strategies, consider:
- Getting your work done on time, so you’re not frustrated and overly busy at home
- Keeping your house clean, so you have less to do after the holidays are over
- Eating right to provide your body with the fuel it needs for energy
- Planning something special so you can relax after the holidays are over
There are plenty of ways you can keep your mental health strong. Above all, I highly recommend that you stick to your morning routine (if you have one) that you have been doing all year. This will help ground you for the day ahead which is important.
Men and mental health are an important topic and its vital that you look after your mental health and emotional wellbeing to keep yourself fresh and energized during the holidays. Focusing on what matters to you and paying attention to what’s really important go a long way toward keeping you mentally healthy.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a happy and safe Christmas, and a new year filled with health, wellbeing and success. I also would like to thank you for your support and am looking forward to serving more and more men in 2022. Merry Christmas from Adam and Ollin Coaching.