Winter weather is here, our decorations are hung by the fire (with care!) and we’re gearing up for the holiday season. Like every year, the 2020 holidays promise plenty of stress. And we’ve heard the word “unprecedented” enough in the last nine months to know that this holiday season is going to bring even more stress than usual.

While we’re having a holly jolly holiday season, there are factors to take into consideration, beyond the difficult decisions many of us are making about who we’ll see for the holidays outside of our immediate households. At the same time, the demands of multiple obligations — and the horrible feeling that comes with letting anyone down — create even more of a need for self-care and self-compassion during times like these.

With all of this in mind, the F3 team has put together a simple guide on managing stress this holiday season. With a little extra kindness, patience, and love, we can make this a healthy and happy holiday season for everyone — no matter what we’re celebrating, who we’re with, or how far apart we may be.

Let’s dive in!

Recognize Signs of Loneliness

We know we’re all tired of hearing about it, but the effects of this pandemic have been harsher and more widespread than many of us realize. In addition to overwhelmed hospitals and medical professionals, many people are suffering from the effects of extended social distancing. These practices are critical to maintaining our safety, but at the same time, they can be extremely draining.

It’s important to recognize the signs of loneliness or depression in yourself and in loved ones. These might include a feeling of disconnection, trouble sleeping or sleeping too much, changes in appetite, irritability, and more. If you or a loved one are suffering from feelings of depression, the holidays could exacerbate these feelings. That’s why it’s even more critical than usual to focus on self-love and self compassion.

Practice Self-Care

For starters, let’s examine ways that we can practice self-care. There are all the tried and true favorites, like home spa days and plenty of kale. A great way to practice self-care during the holidays is to take a holiday tradition you love and find a new way to celebrate it. For example…

• If you usually watch holiday movies with your family, get together via Zoom and watch your favorites as a family via screenshare.

• If you usually cook a holiday meal together, jump on the phone or video chat while everyone cooks their individual holiday feasts.

• If you usually exchange gifts for the holidays, try a letter exchange, video exchange, or other meaningful digital tradition.

The whole time, be sure to practice self-compassion: Understand what causes stress, particularly in yourself, and respect and recognize your own feelings. Try to be patient with yourself, and with family members who may be feeling the stress more than usual. When we focus on the things we can control, rather than the things that make us feel out of control, we can mitigate our own stress — and that of others.

Explore New Sources of Stress Relief

By nine months into quarantine, we’ve all found so many new hobbies that our craft closets are starting to look like four-car garages. However, there’s never been a better time to focus on stress-relieving activities, whether those are new hobbies you’re picking up yourself or group activities you can try as a family. Some stress-relieving activities might include:

• Yoga, meditation, or breathing exercises

• Physical activity, like snowball fights, cooking, or working out

• Visualization techniques, like picturing next year’s in-person events

• New hobbies (these make great gifts too!) like knitting, painting, or needlepoint

Boost Your Mood With a Health-Focused Routine

The holidays are almost always hectic, and even if we’re doing “less” this year, there is still going to be plenty of added stress. One of the best ways to manage this stress is to maintain some form of healthy routine during the “go go go” times. Even if your holiday plans are to stay home and do very little (sounds great, honestly!) you can still make healthy choices in your daily routine to stay healthy and stress-free. These actions might include:

• Keeping up with your daily activities like showering, grooming, and wearing fresh clothes.

• Eating healthy foods (or at least, not having gingerbread for every meal).

• Getting enough sleep and some exercise every day.

At the same time, when things feel out of control, or we’re sad about missing time with loved ones or people who are no longer with us, it’s important to acknowledge the loss of normalcy. It’s okay to feel sad, and grieve for loved ones or lost time. It’s also perfectly fine to take small steps instead of big ones, and focus on your healthy coping skills rather than trying to please everyone. What matters is what’s doing best for YOU, and your physical and mental health. If you’re not able to stick to your normal routine, that’s just fine — spoiler alert, most of the world is having trouble with it too.

Celebrate What The Holidays Are Really About

At the end of the day, many of us will not be able to celebrate in person this year — but luckily, modern technology allows us to stay in touch in ways we never thought possible! During the holidays this year, encourage your loved ones to focus on what the holidays are truly about: Each other. Celebrate the opportunity to stay in touch, celebrate via video chat, and share memories from holidays gone by. Keep the love in the season, and have a healthy and happy holiday!

If you need a more personal touch staying on track, motivated, and connected during the holidays, that’s what the F3 team is all about. We’ll be offering group classes, virtual sessions like guided meditation and yoga, and personal training via Zoom — whether you need a personal touch or just need an endorphin boost, we’ve got you covered. Get in touch to find out more about our virtual offerings!

And of course, from Glenn, Sarah, and the entire F3 team, we wish you the happiest, healthiest, and most wholesome holiday season possible. We’re sending all our love to everyone in our community!!