Slow Down: Taking care of Our Mental Health During the Holidays
This blog post was written by Reconnection Vision Fellow and Communications Team Member Carissa Waugh.
How are you doing?
How are you really doing?
I know, it’s probably a loaded question. I’ll go first..
I am doing okay - the days are darker, the weather is miserable, I need to clean my room and organize my beading area, I don’t want to go outside, I miss my cat, I miss my Grandma like crazy, I just want to lay in my cozy bed and watch movies, and I really need to unpack my suitcase. This past year has been a lot, a lot of big changes and milestones, and a lot of heavy emotions.
I am not perfect in any way, and sometimes I feel like I have such high expectations set on me by my community and sometimes I can’t help but feel like I am alone.
But I am sharing this with you because I know I am not alone, and I want you to know that you are not alone.
Christmas and the new year are just around the corner, but it’s not always a happy time for everyone. Finances, tough jobs (especially customer service this time of year, I used to be a cashier/customer service manager at Walmart and let me tell you, some people are not nice), grief, being away from family/not having family, depression, anxiety…there is so much that we all are going through.
Some people may also be struggling with sobriety. I was staying sober for a month and a half and the temptations and pressure were there. There were also a lot of questions as to why I was staying sober.
Helpful Holiday Tip: If you are hosting a gathering this holiday season, please think of those who are staying sober. There are so many options for alcohol-free drinks besides water or sparkling water, and you want everyone to feel included!
With the holidays coming up, I keep thinking about what I am going to do to keep myself busy. Here are the 3 main things I will be doing this season:
I want to do some beading, maybe work on some projects that I have been thinking about but haven’t had the time to do yet.
LAUGH! I love watching the classic Christmas movies, my favorite is Jim Carrey’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas - I can recite it word for word and I am sure I am driving my family insane when I do it. My second favorite is Home Alone 2: New York - no matter how many times I have watched it, I will still laugh so hard when Marv gets electrocuted and turns into a skeleton for a few seconds!
REST. I will be laying around on my couch in my Christmas pjs, guilt-free. I will be sleeping in, I should also stop staying up so late so I can get actual restful sleep. I have been using the Calm App on my android and let me tell you, it is so worth buying the yearly subscription - I usually wait til Boxing Day or whenever they have a big sale. It has meditations, stories, music, and breathing exercises.
There is also a lot of pressure around this season to go out and socialize with everyone. It’s okay to say no and stay home to take care of yourself. You are the one in control of yourself, you have the power to set those boundaries. I believe in you, if I can set my boundaries, then so can you!
What are you doing for yourself this holiday season? It’s also okay if you plan on doing a whole lot of resting, I know I plan on getting some rest.
Me resting at age 4, circa 1998.
My favorite seed from the Reconnection Vision document is “SLOW DOWN.” You can check out the page here, there is a great little story, some teachings, questions, and this powerful quote by our own Ryan Kyikavichik:
“The crackling of the open fire brings my mind to ease. Brings stillness to my being. And stillness to everything around me. I watch as blades of fire dance to the shifting of air and light. As I sit, I remember quietness, as the things tend to be noisy in the world. I remember to be still, so movement may happen. The movement of emotions, mind, and my spirit.”
