Many of us had to break away from our traditional holiday plans due to COVID-19.  It’s very difficult because we often look forward to this time with our loved ones. 

For those struggling this Holiday season, I hope the following tips will be helpful: 

Tip 1: Recognize how this is affecting you on an emotional level. Acknowledge to yourself that this is not how you planned to spend the holidays. Validate your own feelings, then you’ll be able to recognize the meaning you’ve attached to spending the holidays away from your loved ones. 

Tip 2 – Consciously work on shifting your mindset from the negative train of thought to a positive one. 

Our emotional state is often the byproduct of our thought process. So, please pay attention to the meaning you attach to events. For example, telling ourselves “This is terrible, I’m going to be alone this holiday season” will often result in a different emotional state than saying “I plan on staying home for the holidays to keep my family safe.” 

Tip 3 – Cultivate a grateful mindset. Practice finding something to be grateful for first thing in the morning and throughout the day. This takes discipline and a lot of practice! 

Tip 4 –  Remain connected with friends and family through FaceTime, zoom, or by phone. Intentionality is key! 

Tip 5 – Consider modifying Holiday traditions. For example, if you’re used to opening presents with grandparents, you can still do so via FaceTime. If you’re used to having a Christmas breakfast together, you can still do so by video. Adaptability is key. 

Lastly, 2020 has had many ups and downs. Remember how resilient you have been throughout this season of life. Find a positive word or adjective you’ve learned from 2020, and remind yourself of it when you’re feeling stressed. For example: Resilience, Adaptability, Courage etc.. 

Have a Happy Holiday!