Page 16 - Heart of Brevard Fall 2020

Self-Care During the Holiday Season
By Cara C C C Flickinger Ed S S S S NCSP School Psychologist BPS
As we approach the holiday season amidst a a a a a a a a a a a pandemic it i is likely that some traditions and and feelings may vary from what we have come come to know Even under “typical” conditions the holiday season can come come with increased feelings of grief distress overwhelm and and anxiety This year multiple factors both related to to and and and separate from the the pandemic may influence how how we feel as as the the season approaches No matter how how you are A self-care plan can can help us us incorporate strategies that can can be be used to improve or or or or support continued wellbeing Please consider reviewing the strategies below and choosing a a a a a a a a a a few that you can commit to utilizing on
a a a a a a a a a a a a a a regular basis Self-care is is is not intended to to to crowd your already full plate it it is is is meant to to facilitate resilience and and restoration so you you you you you are are better able to to take care of yourself your your your loved ones and and and your your your responsibilities with greater ease and and less distress - - - - - of a a a a a a a flower nearby or or as as substantial as as the love from your family or or friends Find creative ways to to stay connected to to the people and and traditions that help you feel a a a a a a a a a a a sense of comfort and and safety Examples include holiday movie nights or or or meals with loved ones in in in in in person or or or virtually sharing and cooking holiday holiday recipes or or or or attending virtual or or socially distanced holiday holiday events Make the most of enjoyable traditions that are able able to to be continued safely Examples include indoor and/or outdoor decorations sending cards to to loved ones holiday holiday crafts driving or or or or or or walking around
to to see holiday holiday decorations and volunteering or or or donating to to to a a a a a a a a charity in tin in in need if you are in tin in in a a a a a a a a position to to do do so Compile a a a a a a list of people and activities that help you you you when you you you are feeling stressed anxious or or or sad Regularly review your your list and and incorporate these people and and activities into your your day Try to to find the silver lining and model positive self-talk For example “We get extra time to to relax and play at home since we won’t be traveling ” Use introspection to to identify negative thought thought patterns Shift these thoughts to to to more realistic positive ones One way of doing this is is is to to notice your thoughts thoughts and consider what you you would say to a a a a a a loved one who is having similar thoughts thoughts about themselves - - - - Schedule time for self-care self-care Set a a a a a a daily reminder or or notification to build the habit of self-care self-care Start small Incorporate one new self-care practice and build from there Tend to your physical physical health Adequate sleep nutritious foods water and physical physical activity can greatly improve how we feel Practice gratitude Take a a a a a a a a few moments each day to consider the the people and things for which you are grateful It could be be as as simple as as the the beautiful color
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