Mental Health Matters

Tips for talking with Children about Change

Here are 5 tips from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the UC Davis to help you take care of your mental health during this holiday season! 

• Set realistic expectations for the holidays.
  • Let go of expectations of how you think things should go and be flexible.
• Set boundaries
  • Setting boundaries can be difficult and feel awkward, especially with those close to you, however, this is a necessary component of healthy relationships. Examples of items that it may be beneficial to set boundaries about could be sensitive topics or when making plans about where you will spend the holidays. 
• Take care of yourself
  • Especially in the hustle and bustle of today's society it is imperative to remember that your body needs rest, both physical and mental. Other ways you can take care of yourself during this season are staying hydrated, being active, and enjoying your favorite hobbies.
• Share the happy memories
  • The holidays can be a difficult time as we remember loved ones that are no longer with us. A few suggestions to honor loved ones could be making their favorite meal to share with others or volunteering or donating to their favorite cause.
• Connect with community
  • Finding a community is very important, especially around the holiday season. There are a lot of ways you can find community in your area such as through clubs, your work, volunteering, working out, or cultural centers in your town.

Source: Five tips to manage your mental health during the holidays

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