Happy Holidays!

By Dimitri Georgiev

Now that the holiday period is upon us, we want to wish everyone happy holidays (filled with lots of love and laughter)! A lot of us will surely be excited by the opportunity to spend time at home away from our daily routine. We do also realise that the holiday period can be somewhat stressful for quite a lot of us.

The beginning of the holidays can be met with mixed emotions by some. Even before the last few days of term, a majority of us may have experienced some form of ‘holiday blues’ or seasonal affective disorder (SAD) during the winter season, which causes temporary feelings of low mood or can exacerbate existing mental health issues (especially common ones such as depression and anxiety). It can contribute to a general feeling of low mood.

Starting the holidays also comes with a change of environment and disruption of daily routine; something that causes mental health difficulties to worsen for some. Furthermore, an increase in free time can bring with it more opportunities for our mind to reflect and dwell on negative thoughts. Feelings of loneliness can arise in those who prefer to go back to their university life and social circle over spending time at home.

Many of us have to face the unwanted baseline stress that comes with the holidays. This could be due to things such as high expectations and pressure to (for example) give the perfect gift, organise flawless events, or to remain productive and motivated for exam revision. Interactions with family or friends from back home could also cause stress to some who worry about their home situation.

All of these factors can compound to result in us feeling overwhelmed and stressed, affecting our ability to function as we would expect to normally. Many of us may not even have a specific explanation for why we feel this way. It is therefore no surprise why a lot of people’s ‘season of joy’ may not be as joyous as they might have expected.

Whatever the case may be for each of us, we can all be kind to ourselves during the holidays by keeping an eye on our mental wellbeing. Setting limits for ourselves can also be important for our health to avoid burnout and extra stress. Leaving time to enjoy the holiday by taking plenty of breaks and doing what we enjoy to unwind can really make a difference. Any relaxing self-care activities are also recommended!

This holiday gives us the chance to show gratitude for the people around us. We can avoid isolating ourselves if we are finding things to be overwhelming by getting in touch with loved ones (whether that be by speaking to people at home or messaging friends from uni). Showing appreciation for the things we are grateful for in life and for those around us can help to promote positive thinking and mental wellbeing, especially during a season that can challenge that for many of us.

Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year from the Positive Wellbeing Peer Support Group!

Sources and helpful resources:

• Holiday blues and SAD:

  • https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/

  • https://www.verywellmind.com/holiday-blues-4771716

  • https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/where-science-meets-the-steps/201511/is-it-the-holiday-blues-or-seasonal-depression

• Mental health awareness and management during the holidays:

  • https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/modern-mentality/201811/how-manage-your-mental-health-during-the-holidays

  • https://discoverymood.com/blog/raising-mental-health-awareness-holiday-season/

• Our information, helplines, and self-help resources to find help and maintain a positive state of mind: X

• Masterlist of self-care activities: https://self-care-club.tumblr.com/post/139740925552/giant-self-help-masterpost