We’ve all had a year like no other in 2020 – and not in a good way. Even the most resilient of us are probably feeling the strain of the pandemic on our mental health. That’s why we need to give ourselves the gift of freedom this Christmas.
The holiday season can be full of pressure to see certain family members, attend certain events, or act in a certain way.
But in a year that’s unprecedented in so many ways, I’m here to tell you that it’s okay to break tradition if you need to.
In an ideal world, everyone would get along perfectly with every member of their family and the annual Christmas gathering would be a joy.
Travel restrictions may have loosened enough to allow people to go home to their families, but that doesn’t mean you have to.
Strained family relationships are known to get even harder over the holidays.
With more family members all in one place than there are at any other time of year, old arguments can resurface and cracks can start to form. To make sure that you head into 2021 with as much peace and mental strength as possible, consider taking a time-out from a stressful family reunion if you need to.
Every year, the Christmas period is filled with charming pictures of happy families sitting around the table eating dinner together.
For those estranged from their families, for those who have lost family members this year, for those who find family reunions more tense than joyful, you deserve to have a Christmas celebration that makes you happy, even if that means distancing yourself from family members.
As someone who faces more triggers for my eating disorder during Christmas with my family than at any other time of year, I know what it’s like to wish a few aspects of Christmas celebrations could be different.
This year, I’m making the most of staying in my own home for the holidays, with just one other person around. I know my mental health will thank me in the New Year.
If anything, COVID-19 gives you the perfect reason to sit out Christmas this year. If you need to step back to have the Christmas you want this year, why not let COVID take the blame for one last thing before 2020 comes to a close?
Instead of attending the family gathering that’s at the bottom of your wish list this year, set aside past traditions and picture a new kind of Christmas. Reunite with friends you’ve not seen in months, spend time with a partner, or embrace a Christmas on your own where you can do exactly what you want.
Whatever picture comes to mind, this year is the year to reach out and grab it. What usually makes Christmas hard for you? Are there any triggers that tend to ruin your festive spirit? Create your perfect Christmas, one free from past anxieties and stressors.
The first eleven months of 2020 were hard enough. For anyone who hears the words ‘family Christmas’ and breaks out into a cold sweat, let’s make the final month of 2020 that bit easier for ourselves. Because, honestly, we deserve it.
