End of Year Emotional Health can seem very out of reach, especially since holiday season tends to be an intense time of the year for some of us. The end of the year is generally an emotional time of the year. Here’s why:
- It’s the end of something. Nature is desolate. The weather is more dull than usual. You tend to be more aware of the passing of another year of your life and well as be faced with the expectations and desires for the following year.
- If you’ve suffered any kind of loss recently, your heart may be tender. When our heart is tender, holiday time will be particularly challenging, an emotional marathon sort of speak. It’s like trying to run on crutches, particularly if you’re used to running away from your emotions during the year. It exhausting and you may feel guilty for not being happier. You may feel inadequate and undesirable.
- At this time of the year we tend to both crave connection and fear connection. we may be faced with the fear of not being good enough to be in the company of someone else
- Because usually the holidays are a time gifts are exchanged, it may be a particularly challenging time for those who are afraid to receive.
Is it possible to manage the difficulty of the holidays? Only if you are willing to.
If you are willing to offer yourself an easier time during the holidays and create more end of year emotional health here are a few tips that might help:
- Preparation is key: just like there is a hurricane disaster relief plan, there can be a holiday disaster relief plan. Consider “donating” time and resources for your “relief”.
- Make several holiday allies– these are people you can reach to for support when you get overwhelmed
- Manage your expectations of how things should be. When you stay present and allow things to be what they are, you save yourself a lot of stress.
- Limit exposure to the elements: practice strong boundaries, know what triggers you and consider avoiding exposing yourself by staying away from potentially harmful situations or people.
- Stock up with supporting options: healthy snacks, healthy drinks, music, movies and peaceful surroundings.
- Have a worst case scenario plan. It can be reassuring to know that you have a plan B in case you get overwhelmed. Talk to your life coach ahead of time and get them to agree to make themselves available to you over the phone if need be. Also have the numbers of several crisis hot lines available.
- Count your blessings– be grateful for what you DO have. What can you notice around you that you’d be sad if it was missing? That’s what you’re grateful for.
Gratitude- End of Year Emotional Health - Give it over to your higher power: more than anything the holidays are about connecting with a higher source, a guiding star or a spirit we can hand our messy lives to, when we can no longer hold them. Consider surrendering your weight to be carried by “the spirit” of the holidays.
- Let your heart GROW IN SIZE by giving a hug, a meal or a ride to someone who has it worse than you. Consider sending a word of encouragement to someone else.
- Lastly, once the new year begins consider training yourself to connect with your emotions in a healthier throughout the year. End of year emotional health really depends on how much we have practiced it during the rest of the year.
In reality our happiness does not depend what we do, but what we are. What would you like to be?