Acknowledge the special day but recognize that it’s another day. Not everything will be thrilling. There will still be frustrations and disappointment. Reduce expectations so the day doesn’t fall short.
Mental Health Tips:
- Get adequate sleep to arm yourself for the holiday excitement. Sleep supports mental health.
- Exercise. Intense exercise is a great stress buster, even if you do it in four-minute blocks.
- Eat well. Consume a reasonable amount of fresh food. Make a decision about what you’ll eat before the food is in front of you.
- Set a budget for gifts. It’s better to give things that are memorable than to give filler presents. Give presents that will make a difference for the recipient.
Listen as Dr. David Hill joins Melanie Cole, MS to discuss mental health tips for the holidays.
Dr. David Hill is a hospitalist pediatrician at Goldsboro Pediatrics, an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the UNC School of Medicine, and Associate Medical Editor of Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5, and he is an official spokesperson of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Hill lives, writes, and edits in Wilmington, NC with his wife Christy and a shrinking number of children.