The festive period will be different this year, no matter where in the world you are. It’s something a lot of people are finding difficult to process, with isolation and smaller celebrations being at the forefront of their minds.
I – along with most people I know – have personally been feeling the emotional effects of COVID-19 and the strange isolation it has brought. However, being towards the last stages of pregnancy and knowing that following the guidelines is the safest choice for both my family and me, it’s something I’ve learnt to adapt too. I’ve also been flat out too busy this year with work, so had the pandemic not been here, I feel I’d have been missing out on lots of celebrations in general! But it is the whole missing family and doing ‘normal’ things that is going to get a lot of us this year.
Everyone will have slightly different situations this year, with some people being completely on their own, and others learning to adapt to more complicated situations. For those who already feel low and may battle feelings of depression and sadness may need a little more guidance on how to cope with loneliness this holiday season, so if this is you, do read on…
Know that it’s normal to feel sadder this year
Even before the pandemic, feeling lonely or a little down during this time of the year has never been abnormal. So if you find yourself feeling less enthusiastic about Christmas and even a form of dread kicking in, remember that you’re not alone – lots of people feel this way.
Christmas and New Year can bring up memories of lost loved ones, past friends and lovers, and can cause analysing of the year that has been, which doesn’t always go the right way for some.
That aside, some people who have battled with feeling anxious, depressed or not quite as happy as they used to be, can feel like they have failed themselves (which is absolutely not the case, but sometimes the mind can make people feel this).
Remember that if this is you, there are steps you can take to improve this. Your diet, mindset and general lifestyle can all contribute to improving your mind and working on how you are feeling, and integrative psychiatry is a holistic form of treatment which can do this.
Integrative psychiatry has been known to offer personalised and complementary ways to help people, as it offers support on using guided imagery, nutrition, exercise and bodywork to bring joy. Overall, it can help people who have suffered with anxiety, depression, PTSD, perimenopause, or similar phobias – you can click here for more about this.
Learn to live virtually – even if just for a short time
A lot of people give up with virtual communications, saying they don’t enjoy speaking to people through screens and it doesn’t match up to real life interaction. Of course, it’s not designed to be as good. However, in these current times, virtual connections can be beneficial and have lots more impact that the think. They can create a positive sense of communication and join families together in a fun and relaxed way, without being all ‘stuffy’ and ‘conference call’ like. There are so many video call apps which let families and friends join in large groups, and as well as chatting, they can take part in interactive games and quizzes.
While we can’t be with loved ones the same this year, connecting via video calls regularly means you can strengthen existing friendship and build on new friendships and connections. Those days or nights when you feel a little alone can instantly be perked up when seeing friendly faces on your mobile device or laptop, even though it’s secondary to seeing people in person.
Invest in a new hobby
There will be so many people with more time on their hands this Christmas, so if this is you, try to use it wisely. Think about something you can take up as a hobby or an enjoyable activity, you don’t even have to make it something you just do on your own, either.
Think about a new hobby you and your partner could take up together, like cooking a certain cuisine, decorating or upcycling. Or, could you create a business plan together? How about something you do alone, like painting, a musical instrument, or learning to be a coach in a subject you’re really passionate about?
Plan future events to look forward to
Remember that the pandemic we’ve had to live through this year has changed how we live, and it’s true that it has screwed up some quality time we could have spent with family and friends. But stressing and being upset about it won’t cure the problem. The only way forward is to look into the future with optimism, and plan to spend time with our family and friends going forward.
If you can’t be with those you love this Christmas season, get together with a few special people, all have your diaries out, jump on a video call and share a laugh or some memories together. Start planning things you can do in the future, trips away, holidays, dinners out or places to day trip to.
You can even make plans yourself, planning for the year ahead and making a start on listing goals and desires that you can personally aim for. Perhaps the pandemic can help you save (if your job hasn’t been hit), so perhaps you could aim to buy your dream home sooner than you thought. Perhaps this year has made you realise you’re ready for a career change, or need to visit more places and have a wider travel experience when things go back to normal a little…
Overall, remember that the festive period can evoke a lot of emotions, and not always the happiest for some. You’re not alone, if this is you, and bear in mind this year in particular, things are going to feel a little more strange. But there’s help out there, and people to speak to, and hopefully, the tips above can work wonders if you feel a little lost.
Leave a Reply