on the first day of christmas...

12/14/22

good morning cherubs!

since it is the giving season, I decided to give y'all an extra few (or 12) blogs for christmas! these will be themed around bettering yourself and your mental heath through the thickest part of the holiday season.

sometimes we all need to take just a few minutes to remind ourselves of the things we can forget during the busyness of the holiday rush; self-care, therapy, meeting the needs of others, are all things we have to manage.

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so today is the first installment!!!

on the first day of blogmas, bravebutsoft gave to me... (*cue singing voice*)

decmeber reminders to keep on track!

I hope you enjoy!

December reminders:

• choose people who choose you

we will talk about this more in detail in another special gifted blog, but it's still important to mention. this time of year we are all expected to see every single family member, buy them a gift, have a meal with, etc. but sometimes that isn't possible. sometimes family dynamics aren't healthy and aren't the easiest to get through. this is your reminder: don't spend time with people who don't appreciate your presence. if you don't feel like going, don't go! choose people who choose you.

• what you bottle up, will brew

with the last bullet point in mind, bottling up your feelings will NOT make you feel better. especially during this time of year. it is hard to plaster on a happy face for events when deep inside you know that you are struggling. with daylight savings in full swing, that means seasonal affective disorder is in full swing too. those of us with mental health issues are struggling whether or not it looks like it. keeping these feelings internalized is not a good choice. you might make it through the holidays, but the new year is going to be rough. so if you're feeling a certain way, tell those around you. if you're not feeling up to going to a holiday activity/event, don't stress! tell yourself it is okay to stay back. if you bottle up your emotions, you will keep them in so long, they'll have to come out eventually and it's probably not going to be pretty.

• don't just live through days; make them count

like we all know, this time of year is one of the busiest times of all. this makes it extremely easy to want to wish the days away and get through them as quick as possible. for a healthier version and bettering your mental health, do something each day to make it count. it doesn't have to be expensive or super time consuming. it can be as simple as driving around to look at christmas lights or get hot chocolate from the local coffeeshop or putting up the christmas tree! it doesn't matter what, just make it count!

• if it brings you joy, it should matter if you're "too old" to enjoy it

this idea sparked within me for a few reasons. there are lots of holiday activities and events that people think are only geared towards children, but that doesn't mean adults can't enjoy them too! some things that come to mind are: building gingerbread houses, wearing an ugly christmas sweater, putting up decorations, collection weird ornaments, driving to look at christmas lights, advent calendars, buying stocking stuffers, and so much more... but if these things bring you joy, let them! don't let judgment from others dull your happiness. if you enjoy something, you don't need the approval from others.

• growth is uncomfortable but worth it

our society is every changing. our family dynamics are ever changing. people come and go. but you will always have yourself to take care of and keep you company. growth can be taken lots of different ways, but the importance of growth is majority of the time, healthy. during the moment it might be uncomfy, awkward, or painful, but most of the time in is for the better. growing and changing isn't always bad. focus on the good things growth is bringing you and allow you.

meaningful to-do list for December:

• bake goodies for the homeless

homeless individuals struggle year round (& this is not me telling you to only help them during the holidays) but during this time of year, I am sure it is much harder. especially if these individuals are alone, without family or companionship. during this time of year, people are more apt to help those in need. this is the perfect opportunity to reach out. whether you believe it or not, there are homeless individuals close to you. there are people struggling everywhere. whatever your preconceived notion is about home insecurity, these people are human and deserve to be treated as such. do something good for someone this season...

• connect with someone away from home

a lot of us are fortunate enough to live relatively close to majority of our family & friends, but some of us aren't. for whatever reason you aren't able to connect with an important person in your life, reach out to them. whether it's a phone call, FaceTime, message, or christmas card, let them know that you are thinking of them. just them knowing that your mind thought of them during this time of year will make them feel special.

• look back at how far you've come

December is the last month of a long lasting year full of ups, downs, and everything in between. reflect on this year and realize how much you have overcome and gone through and most importantly, survived! you've gotten this far...keep going!

• hug someone you love

hugs are scientifically known to improve mood, reduce fears or stress, boost heart health, and more. this "someone" can be family, friends, pets, etc. author and family therapist Virginia Satir says "we need four hugs a day for survival. we need eight hugs a day for maintenance. we need 12 hugs a day for growth." are you getting enough hugs?

• look forward to an amazing new year

as the last month of the year is coming to a close, begin to prepare yourself for all the new things coming. set expectations, but don't be disappointed if you don't meet them. set goals and try to achieve them to the best of your ability. keep your mental health in check and most every thing else will fall into place.

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I hope that you guys enjoyed the first installment of bravebutsoft's blogmas!

ill see you guys tomorrow (:

xx Loryn