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Your Mental Health, Wrapped: Five Gifts for the Holidays

 

Christmas can be a time of joy, love, and celebration, but also a period of stress, expectations, tension with family members or friends, and a never-ending to-do list. There are expectations around the holiday season for joy, togetherness, and fun, which can add pressure, especially if you're not feeling great within yourself or connected to the people around you. Studies have found that the Christmas holiday period is related to some difficult experiences for a lot of people, including: loneliness (31% of Australians, particularly men aged 18–34 (44%), feel lonely during Christmas), financial strain, increased mental health-related services demand, and feelings of overwhelm with work deadlines during the holiday season. 

Christmas might be especially hard for people who:

• have difficult family dynamics or relationships
• experience bereavement and are missing loved ones
• aren’t in the best spot in life and are reflecting on a hard year or worried about the year ahead
• are feeling isolated, lonely, or lacking closeness
• are feeling financially strained

Taking care of ourselves and our communities is essential, always, and especially around the holidays. In this blog, we’re covering 5 gifts you can give yourself to protect your wellbeing this Christmas. 

 

1. The gift of awareness

Mindfulness, attunement, and self-awareness help us notice what’s coming up without judgement. Dismissing, suppressing, or ignoring your emotions doesn’t make them go away. And if we ignore signals, we can fall into patterns like being reactive, saying yes to things when we’re burned out, and overriding our needs. 

Research shows us the benefits of mindfulness. It decreases symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, and leads to greater emotional resilience, focus, and wellbeing. It doesn’t take much. Start with simple check-ins: What am I feeling? What do I need? Where is this showing up in my body?

The first gift you can give yourself is simply noticing what’s coming up, and holding space for it with grace.

Ways to try:

• mindful breathing
• a mindful YouTube video
• naming your emotions (“I am feeling lonely today”)
• adding “I’m having the thought that…” before a thought

 

(See our previous post for mindfulness strategies and resources)

 

2. The gift of boundaries

It’s okay (and important) to say no when things are overwhelming.

At Christmas, many of us fall into patterns of doing too much for others and draining our own cups. Communicating your needs helps you stay balanced and well.

Boundaries are limits we set to help us feel safe, secure, and respected. They’re the needs and expectations that keep us comfortable in our lives and relationships (Nedra Glover Tawwab, Set Boundaries, Find Peace). Setting boundaries protects our wellbeing and shields us from stress, depression, and burnout. They help us navigate challenges with resilience and take ownership of our choices.

Ways to try:

• communicate boundaries ahead of time
• start small
• clearly communicate your limits (“I won’t be able to make that, but thank you for thinking of me”)
• use “I” statements
• be consistent

3. The gift of rest

It’s easy to get swept up in busy events during the holiday season, but it’s so important we take the time we need to rest and restore. 

We encourage you to prioritise your own rest that makes you feel truly rejuvenated, or simply intentionally stop and do nothing for a while. Rest is slowing down. Not thinking, not planning ahead, not doing. Rest is notscrolling on social media.

Rest helps us feel and function better. When we’re rested, we’re more emotionally stable and make better decisions.

Ways to try:

 

• sky gazing 
• simply sitting for a few minutes and having a tea 
• gentle yoga 
• being in nature 
• reading a book 
   

 

4. The gift of giving 

Humans benefit deeply from helping others. Acts of service like volunteering, kind gestures or words, or meaningful gifts don’t just make the receiver feel good; they help us, too.

Research shows kindness increases happiness and self-esteem, and decreases stress and emotional reactivity. Simple acts can improve mood, reduce stress, and alleviate symptoms of depression or anxiety.

Helping others connects us, boosts self-worth, and can remind us that the world is an okay place to be in. It helps us feel valuable and hopeful. It is incredibly powerful for our mental wellbeing.

Ways to try

• ask if someone needs help cooking, organising, or cleaning
• Volunteer your time, even if it’s just a once-off, to a charity 
• Give someone something thoughtful or kind words 
• Do something kind for a stranger 

 

5. The gift of movement

Movement helps us stay well: both physically and mentally.

Being active is one of the best ways to process stress. When we move, our bodies release a feel-good concoction of chemicals that improve our mood, give us energy, help us sleep, and reduce negative thoughts.

We can move alone, or with friends. The recommendation is 30 minutes on most (or all) days but any movement is better than none, and starting simple is key.

Ways to try:

• a 10-minute walk around the block
• include a friend 
• Pilates/yoga video at home
• join a class

 

We really hope this is a useful article to help support you through a busy and potentially tough period. 

Key takeaways:

 

• Notice and allow your thoughts and emotions to be there (without judgement).
• Set boundaries - it’s okay (and essential!) to say no or communicate your limits.
•  Make time to rest, restore, and relax.
• Do something for someone else (it helps you too).
• Move your body regularly.

 

Have a safe and peaceful holiday season!