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Four tips for looking after your mental health this festive season. The festive season can be a challenging time for mental health, so it is more important than ever to take care of yourself. To address this, Jeff Foster, mental health doctor at Manual (www.manual.co), highlights the most commonly reported mental health triggers and shares his tips for tackling them. Pressure to meet expectations Comparison is the thief of joy, and seeing other people's Christmas celebrations on social media can make you feel down about yours. ”Although some of us may use social media for work, generally there is no other form of technology that is so damaging towards our mental health. If I can make one main recommendation for mental health safety over Christmas, it is to take a month off social media.” Financial stress There is often a lot of pressure to spend a lot of money during the festive season, which can have a huge impact on your mental health. ”This can be acutely felt at Christmas where there is a commercial drive to spend!" Dr Foster says. "The key is to not be pressured by what you see others having.” He adds that people often value thought and effort more than something that costs a lot of money. Loneliness and isolation Being around people has been shown to improve mental health so try to reach out to anyone who may be struggling this holiday. ”If you notice someone is pulling away... that can be sign they are struggling," the GP notes. "Get them to meet for a coffee, go for a walk, have lunch together. You don't have to force the topic of mental health but just let them talk can be enough to start helping.” Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) SAD, which is triggered by shortened days and changes in the weather, is often confused with depression as it has many similar features. ”There is little evidence light boxes help, but getting at least 15 minutes of sunlight every day can help, just getting outside, making sure you have a good daily routine, and exercise," he recommends. "Seeing your doctor can be very important if you are badly affected by SADs as medical treatments are available."
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