Maintaining Your Mental Health During the Holidays

During the holidays, it's easy to get caught up in the rush of all of your obligations. Being tired, stressed, and anxious can not only cause a toll on your physical health, but it can also hurt you mentally as well. Sure, you're not going to have a nervous breakdown just because of your extra commitments, but it's important to maintain your mental well-being during the holidays so you can enjoy your time with your family and friends.

How can you ensure that your mental health stays intact during the holidays? Follow these simple tips:

#1: Prepare for the rush-If you plan and prepare ahead of time for the holidays, you can help yourself ease the worries of high expectations. It is never too early to plan ahead: make lists six weeks ahead of time, decide your budget, and organize your needs vs. wants for the holiday. Create a calendar of holiday events, and plan accordingly.

#2: Get enough sleep-Make a schedule and try to stick to it. I find myself frequently skipping sleep in order to get things done. I will bake well into the morning, sometimes until 2am or 3am. However, this only happens when I don't allow myself to plan and get things done as scheduled. Sure, last minute things come up, but if you've planned for your other obligations and followed through, you will have the opportunity to relax and allow yourself to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep. This will help you get through the next day, and you'll be rested and refreshed.

#3: Allow for "me" time-You may quickly find yourself agreeing to new commitments, which after a period of time can become overwhelming. Allow yourself at least thirty minutes per day to have for yourself. Whether you read a book, take a bath (my favorite), watch TV, or go on a short walk, ensure that you have time alone to think, reflect, and relax.

#4: Learn to say no-Assertiveness isn't always a bad thing. In fact, it can help you tremendously as you prepare for the holidays. If you become a yes-person, you won't give yourself enough time to get everything done. Sure, you can take on a few tasks without becoming mentally overwhelmed. However, if you accept every responsibility everyone gives you, not only will you become mentally exhausted, but you will have so many responsibilities that you may find yourself rushing to get everything done. It's better to meet your obligations well than to spread yourself too thin attempting to do too much.

#5: Ask for help-If you need help, ask! The key for maintaining mental health this holiday season is not becoming overwhelmed. If you need your husband to help wrap gifts, ask him to help. Your kids can take on small tasks, helping you clean or organizing gifts. Sharing the responsibilities gives you more time to relax, and can help your overall mental state.

Following these tips will help your sanity remain intact, and your holiday to go much more smoothly. Remember the reason you celebrate the holidays, and you'll likely find yourself in a better, more optimistic state of mind.