By Dylana Milobar

BC Ministry of Mental Health highlights importance of holiday season self-care

Dec 16, 2018 | 11:29 AM

BRITISH COLUMBIA — BC’s Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions is putting out the reminder to make sure self-care doesn’t fall by the wayside this holiday season.

In a release today, the Ministry acknowledges how this time of year can bring added pressures like travelling, busy schedules, financial strain, increased expectations, and sad memories.

These demands can affect your well-being, especially for people dealing with loneliness, trauma, grief, mental illness, or substance-use challenges.

To help manage your wellness this holiday season, the release provides some tips in mind.

1. Talk it out. Just because it’s the holidays does not mean you cannot be honest about how you are feeling. Sometimes talking to a loved one, a trusted friend or a health-care professional can make all the difference.

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2. Do not over-extend yourself. Prioritize your time so you can relax and enjoy the season with people you care about.

3. Beware of overindulgence. Because alcohol is a depressant, having a few too many spirits can actually dampen your spirit. Also, too many treats can leave you feeling tired and lethargic. Try to maintain your regular eating and sleeping habits as much as possible.

4. Stay within budget. Finances can become a huge source of stress. Make yourself a budget for the season and stay within it.

5. Practice stress-busting activities all year. By managing your wellness throughout the year through exercise, meditation, time with friends and family or other activities, you will have an easier time coping with the stressors the festive season can bring.

For added support, many mental-health and substance-use services and supports are available throughout the province for adults, youth and children, and links to those resources can be found here.