Flourish Health & Wellbeing eMag - Latest Edition - Flipbook - Page 20
If you celebrate Christmas, how can
you protect your mental health?
Caring for your mental wellbeing is paramount
during this time of year. Overcoming
challenging emotions and scenarios can seem
daunting, but there are some little steps Health
Direct Australia say you can take to make the
season more tolerable:
Look after your finances. If you9re under
financial pressure, create a budget, be
honest and tell others that you can9t afford
expensive gifts this year, and stick to your
means. Take a look at our other article on
navigating Christmas financial pressures.
Protect yourself against potential family
conflict. Avoid topics that might engender
conflict or differing opinions, such as
religion and politics. If there9s tension
between you and a family member, try to
put it to one side and focus on others
around you with stronger connections.
Finally, engage in fun activities that divert
attention away from conflict and tension
(such as backyard cricket).
Build the Christmas you want and find
your crowd. If you9re estranged from your
family, grieving the loss of a loved one, or
not in the festive spirit, build the day you
want. If you9d prefer to curl up on the sofa
with a book, there9s nothing wrong with
that. You could also build a tradition with
friends whereby you all gather for dinner.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution, so
build the festive season you want and will
enjoy!
Loneliness during the festive season
A significant issue on a global scale is
loneliness. According to Health Direct Australia
and the Ending Loneliness Together Initiative, 1
in 3 Aussies are lonely. Currently considered a
global 8public health concern9 by WHO,
loneliness can be compounded by the festive
season, which is saturated with togetherness
and connectedness.
But there are ways you can try to minimise
your feelings of loneliness during this season.
One consideration is volunteering; maybe head
to your local homeless shelter or food bank
and offer your time. You could also attend an
event or reach out to an old friend—you never
know what might happen.
Being Considerate of religious views
during the festive period
An often-overlooked element of the festive
period is the fact that not everyone celebrates
or recognises Christmas. Traditionally observed
as a time to celebrate the birth of Christ,
Christmas is celebrated by many religions, such
as Christianity, Catholicism, and Buddhism.
Many atheist, secular, and agnostic people may
also partake in Christmas celebrations.
However, many religions do not and may have
a special day of their own during this period.
Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, and many more
fall around the November, December, and
January period. Yet, our shopping centres are
adorned with Christmas trees and bright,
sparkly stars.
There can also be a sense of lost identity
during this time, as people may feel their
religious beliefs are lesser than those of others.
So, during this time of year, it9s important that
we give consideration to other people9s
traditions, religions, and holidays. After all, it9s
not just about Christmas! If you9d like to learn
more, take a listen to our podcast on mental
health during the holiday period…
