Mindful Holidays: Prioritising Mental Health This Season
December 16, 2025
The holidays can be an amazing time of year for many people. But it can also be a stressful time for many, with Mental Health UK finding that 80% of those asked thought their mental health was worse during the holidays.
It’s okay if the festive season doesn’t feel joyful or exciting. Here are some reasons why the holidays may not be fun for everyone, and tips to support yourself and others during the holidays.
Social Pressure
There can be a lot of social pressure during the holidays to be happy and cheerful all the time or risk being labelled a grinch. This is only perpetuated by the holiday ads of happy families, films of finally finding true love, and social media posts of holidays and celebrations. But this is only one experience of the holidays.
Supporting Yourself
Make sure to do what is best for you rather than focusing on what others believe the holidays should look like.
Talk to those around you. If the holidays are a particularly difficult time, make sure the ones you trust know.
Supporting Others
Support the people around you where they are at, rather than trying to make them celebrate like you.
Don’t make people feel bad about not wanting to celebrate or not being “cheery. Labelling someone as a “grinch” does nothing but make them feel like they’re wrong for not feeling festive.
Financial Pressure and Stress
For many people, giving gifts is a large part of celebrations. There can be huge pressure to buy loads of expensive gifts for others, and this can be an immense pressure for those struggling financially.
Supporting Yourself
As hard as it can be, try not put pressure on yourself to spend your money. There are many ways you can show you care about someone, other than spending money on expensive presents.
Talk to those around you. Ask if they are willing to not exchange presents or if they would be happy to do a cheaper group outing instead.
Supporting Others
In order to decrease the financial pressure and stress, consider creating new traditions with friends or family to save money. Some ideas include: doing Secret Santa so you only buy one present, having a group outing or activity where you can split the cost or meet up for free. You could also do exchanges where you all give something from your house you don’t use anymore that the other person might want.
Loneliness and Grief
The holidays can be a great time for families to reconnect and to spend time with loved ones. But they can also bring up a lot of memories of loved ones no longer with us. It’s important to know that everyone’s holiday looks different, and it is important to take care of yourself.
Supporting Yourself
Struggling with loneliness and grief can lead you to isolate yourself even more. It’s important to reach out to people during this time to not make your feelings of loneliness more intense.
The holidays can bring back a lot of memories and feelings about those we have lost. It’s okay to think or talk about these memories; you may find that remembering the time spent with them makes it easier.
It is easier said than done, but try not to compare yourself to what you see online. People post highlights, not their whole life.
Supporting Others
If you know someone who struggles during the holidays or lives alone, reach out to them and let them know you are here for them. If you are able to, you could invite them to join you!
Busy Environments and Uncomfortable Conversations
Many areas become a lot busier during the holiday seasons; groups of people out shopping for their gifts, people going on holidays, or people going out for a meal and a drink. There are also sudden decorations or flashing lights wherever you look! This can be very overwhelming for many due to the increase in noise, the cramped environments, and the visual stimulation.
Part of this is also going to family events and get-togethers, which can be very busy and can sometimes include difficult or uncomfortable conversations. There may be a family member who always asks about your love life or comments on your appearance, and this can be incredibly uncomfortable and upsetting.
Supporting Yourself
Set boundaries when having a big family get-together. If you know there are often comments on topics that make you uncomfortable, then it is important to set important boundaries. Phrases such as “I’m happy where I am right now, “That’s not something I want to discuss, or “I’m prioritising [topic] right now” can help to kindly but firmly set a boundary.
Many shops and events have dedicated “quiet hours” to support overstimulation. Typically, at these times, they accept fewer people in the venue, have no music or quieter music, and dim the lights.
Remember that “No, thank you” is a perfectly acceptable response to an invite.
Supporting Others
If hosting a party or event, make sure to check in with those you have invited. If you know someone who can struggle with overstimulation, consider having quieter music or an area someone can go if they need some more quiet time away from the group.
Don’t hesitate to ask someone how you can support them. They will most likely appreciate the attempt to support them, and it takes away the guesswork!
Don’t make comments on other people’s appearance or life unless they have asked for your opinion, and if they have asked you not discuss that topic, respect their wishes.
Eating
For many, the holidays come with festive dinners and boxes of chocolates. For those who have struggled with eating disorders or body image struggles, this can be difficult.
Supporting Yourself
Remember to be kind to yourself and where you are right now. You don’t need to justify what you are eating to others or to yourself, and you don’t need to earn your food.
Reach out to those you trust for support, especially if they are going to a dinner or event with you, so they can be there for you. This can feel difficult at first, but many people in your life do want to support you. If you are struggling with how to approach it, be honest with them. You can say something like “this is a difficult thing for me to talk about, but I am worried about the family dinner because…”.
Supporting Others
Don’t comment on what other people are eating or on their weight or appearance. Unless you want to say something such as “ooh, that pudding looks lovely, good choice!” don’t say it; all it does is bring the other person down and hurt them.
If someone comes to you with a concern, it is important to listen to them and not shut them down. Actively listen to their concerns and ask them how you can support them.
Final Thoughts
Celebrating the holidays comes in lots of shapes and sizes, and it’s okay if you don’t feel festive. The important thing to do is prioritise your mental health; be open to those around you and remember that it’s okay to say no.