Highlights | Prioritize your well-being over the holidays
- Between work and personal obligations, the holiday season can be stressful.
- It’s necessary to reserve some time to rest and recharge.
- Canceling plans, setting boundaries, avoiding isolation and reaching out for help are positive ways to care for yourself during these busy months.
In our series, One Fun Thing, we’re collaborating with Anne Browning, PhD, Chief Well-Being Officer and associate dean for Well-Being at the UW School of Medicine, to bring you small, specific and low-effort ways to have more fun, plus a question to help you check in with yourself and others, and well-being resources.
The end of the year can be stressful, from family get-togethers and holiday shopping to last-minute work tasks. Plus, the seasonal blues are real and can hit especially hard during the rainy winter months.
While mindfulness and carving out time for breathing exercises are great ways to practice self-care, having more options to help regulate can be helpful. Here are some less-traditional ways to prioritize yourself this holiday season.
“For many of us, we are balancing the extroverted sides of ourselves that love to see loved ones and gather together with the introverted side of ourselves that needs to step away to recharge,” says Browning. “Planning ahead to set times to recharge — whether it be taking walks outside solo, attending a fitness class or sitting on the couch to decompress — that planned time to reset between social events can be crucial to our enjoyment of the festivities.”
Take action this holiday season
- It’s OK to cancel plans. Having too much on your schedule can lead to emotional and physical burnout. Practice opting out of plans to keep your mind (and body) at its best for when you’re ready to reschedule.
- Set boundaries. We often balance a lot during this season, whether it’s taking on extra work in the office or planning the holiday dinners. Practice saying no when you don’t want to (or feel uncomfortable) doing a task, and set clear expectations with your loved ones around how you’re feeling and what you can contribute.
- Don’t isolate. This can be especially difficult for those who live alone or work from home. Take the time to connect with someone — whether in person or online — it’s actually better for your health.
- Reach out for help if needed. You can’t do it all alone. A therapist or mental health professional can help you set goals and process emotions during this stressful time.
Question of the month
A way to check in with each other and ourselves. Use this question to connect with co-workers at your next meeting, to start a conversation around the dinner table or as a journal prompt.
How can you practice gratitude on stressful days?
Resources
- Request help from a peer supporter, or through the Washington Employee Assistance Program.
- Apply for a Well-Being Grant to plan ahead for fun and other meaningful activities to improve your work environment.
