How to Cope with the Holidays in 2020?

how to cope with the holidays

East Hartford, CT— It is that time of year during the holiday season that people look forward to all year. Unfortunately, the holidays can also be a difficult time for many. This is especially true this year, as we continue to battle the pandemic that brought additional challenges with it.

It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays, leading to feel overburdened, stressed and anxious.

As the number of COVID cases increases rapidly during this holiday season, this year’s holidays can also stir up feelings of loneliness and intensify feelings of loss especially if this the first holiday season after a death of a significant person in your life.

The East Hartford Youth Services Department offers some tips to help keep things in control and cope with the stress of the holidays in 2020:

  1. Understand your trigger: What is it that sets you off? For some people it will be the lack of family gatherings and not being together with certain relatives that can trigger negative emotions.  Acknowledge these feelings and accept them.  
     
  2. Develop ways to cope with these triggers such as deep breathing, leaving the situation, or steering the conversation away from certain subjects.
     
  3.  Be prepared for any situation and have your coping strategies ready when needed. 
     
  4. Lower your expectations of the season. Try to be realistic with your life situation in terms of what to spend and what you will receive. Life is not like a “Hallmark Movie”. 
     
  5. Get plenty of rest:  This leads to better physical and mental health.
     
  6. Stick to your daily /family routines: Having a daily routine provides comfort for adults and children in these challenging and uncertain times.
     
  7.  Remember to eat healthy: It will give you the energy and nutrition you need to get through the busy and emotional holidays.   
     
  8.  RELAX: When shopping, try not to get irritated or angry at the long lines as we continue to keep our social distance.
     
  9.  RELAX:  Things aren’t always easy and don’t always go smoothly. You will get through this. 
     
  10. Reach out to talk to someone: If you don’t have family or friends in the area and are feeling lonely, reach out to them by phone, email call the State of Connecticut’s “Talk it Out” line (1-833-258-5011). The line is “for parents and caregivers who need someone to talk out feelings”.    
     
  11.  Spend a quiet night at home:  Take time out of your busy schedule and relax.
     
  12. Shop locally over the Internet: Avoid long lines and frustrating trips to the store and shop online instead.
     
  13. Review Life’s priorities: Review your hectic schedule and assess what is really important and what is not.
     
  14. Ask for help: You do not have to do it all by yourself. Ask for the help you need.
     
  15. Do not lose the meaning of the holidays: If consumerism, commercialism and   shopping bring you down, find inspiration in songs, stories and movies that help you reconnect with what makes the holidays special.
     
  16.  Have FUN:  It is always important to remember to have fun when you can during the holidays.