Family Health and Safety 10 ways to mind your mental health during the holidays The holidays are a time for family and fun, but stress and depression often crash the party. The mental health experts at the Mayo Clinic offer 10 tips. By Lisa Foust Prater Lisa Foust Prater Lisa Foust Prater is the Family & Farmstead Editor for Successful Farming, sharing interesting family features, heartfelt editorial columns, and important health and safety information. Her favorite thing about her job is meeting interesting people, learning their stories, and sharing them with our readers.Lisa started her career with Successful Farming magazine in 1999, working primarily for the web team and writing product reviews for the magazine. She later wrote for the Living the Country Life magazine and website and has written and edited several cookbooks and other books for Successful Farming and Living the Country Life. Successful Farming's Editorial Guidelines Published on December 7, 2021 Close The holidays are a time for family and fun, but stress and depression often crash the party. The mental health experts at the Mayo Clinic offer 10 tips. 1. Acknowledge your feelings. It's normal to grieve for lost love ones, especially this time of year. 2. Reach out. Attend a community event, meet a friend, or volunteer your time to help others. 3. Be realistic. As families change, so do traditions. If adult children won't be coming home, exchange gifts during a video chat. Make a new tradition 4. Set aside differences. Any grievances can be dealt with after the holidays. Don't let stress steal your holiday joy 5. Stick to a budget. Decide how much you can spend on food and gifts before you go shopping. 6. Plan ahead. Schedule specific days for shopping, baking, and other activities. Recruit people to help where you need them. Last-minute holiday hacks 7. Learn to say no. A calendar that's too full can be overwhelming. Don't overbook yourself. 8. Don't abandon healthy habits. Have a healthy snack before holiday parties, get plenty of sleep, and keep up with your workouts. 9. Take a breather. Make time to unwind, even if it's just 15 minutes a day to read or to take a walk. How to practice presence and reduce your stress 10. Seek professional help. If sadness, anxiety, or hopelessness persist, see your doctor. Thanks to online therapy, you don't even have to leave the house to get help. Online tools make mental health care accessible Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit