(file photo/CKOM)

By CKOM

mental health

Maintaining your mental health over the COVID holidays

Dec 23, 2020 | 9:08 AM

The holiday season in 2020 is unlike anything we’ve experienced in the past.

Zoom calls may be replacing old traditions in your home and you may feel uncomfortable about it all, but that’s O.K., according to Terri Peterson, practice lead at the University of Saskatchewan’s student wellness centre.

“Most peoples traditions and rituals will have to change,” she told 650 CKOM Tuesday.

“Many people look forward to the holiday season … this year is going to look different, and I think people have known that for quite some time. But knowing it, and kind of making it through to the holiday, then planning (it) can take some innovation and creativity.”

Peterson said people should talk with their loved ones about how they’d like to spend their time over the holidays. She said starting those conversations will ease the change associated with the holiday season in 2020.

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“It is really important for us to reach out for support,” she said, before saying it could be a trusted friend, family member or counsellor.

“Many of us have been having difficulty completing our stress cycles. (We) do that through interacting with community on a day-to-day level … that really hasn’t been as accessible.”

Peterson said people may be feeling a build up of stress, anxiety, feeling low or overwhelmed this holiday season. She also added that people may feel a bit less stressed this holiday season, not having to see family members or take on the stress of the holidays.

She said a bit of self-reflection through this time may be helpful to make it through.

“Ask ourselves, ‘O.K., what do I need?,’ ‘What do I want to plan?,’ ‘What can I still plan?’” she said.

“We need to kind of take the time to formulate what (the holiday season) is going to look like.”

When it comes to those living alone, or away from their families, they do have the option to join a household as long as they don’t exceed five people in the home.

Some may still stay at home though, depending on their independent situations.

Peterson had some advice for those looking to stay well through the holidays.

“Those who are flying solo (are) going to have to get quite creative,” she said. “How can we still connect to some degree? Maybe we can send some gifts and open them up over Skype.

“Maybe we can create something special … somehow create some sense of renewal, care, connection, those are the things that we often want and look forward to.”

CKOM