14 Dec Holiday Time – Ready, Set, … Now What?
Preparing for the winter holiday festive season has always involved anticipation, the excitement of get-togethers with friends and family, office parties, gift exchanges, and other winter traditions.
Trying to keep up with long standing customs or, as is sometimes the case, just managing to get through this hectic time of year, will be especially challenging this year. As if the usual amount of stress and anxiety that builds at this time of year isn’t enough to deal with, the pandemic and its restrictions must also factored into the planning.
Our mental health may be pushed to the limits as we try our best to maintain a holiday atmosphere during very challenging times.
An article written by Dr. Steven Taylor, a professor and clinical psychologist in the department of psychiatry at the University of British Columbia and author of the book, ‘The Psychology of Pandemics: Preparing for the Next Global Outbreak of Infectious Disease’, talks about the necessity of focusing on your mental wellness now and thinking about how you can increase the positives and reduce your stressors. You can read the full article here.
The holidays will come and go, and although things may not be as you thought they might, each encounter will serve to create their own special memories to recount at future gatherings.
You will be astonished and marvel at the extent of your creativity when looking back at the challenges that you overcame during the Winter Pandemic of 2020. Perhaps this will be the start of some new traditions.