What was it like for you? Do you have one? Christmas still debrief? You may not have even thought that was necessary; after all, it is only one day in an entire year. But whether we celebrate Christmas or not, it is useful to have a download with yourself or someone else.
Aside from the religious significance of Christmas for some, many of us have something extraordinary about it amount of pressure placed on us – by ourselves, by others or by society itself.
There are months of preparation, marketing and advertising that makes us think that we have to create the most perfect day, where everything and everyone is happy, that we have to buy a lot of presents to make others feel loved or to feel loved and spend a lot of money to make sure everyone has a good time. Whatever celebration this was for you, and whatever meaning it had, it’s an awful lot to deal with.
And then it’s gone. And we are left with fond memories, impactful ripples, or sometimes a challenging aftermath that needs to be cleared up.
If we ignore the emotions, we miss out on some important benefits to us mental and emotional healthand may not process the impact Christmas Day has had.
First, stop and think about how you might label the Christmas you just had, and then work through it.
Have a good Christmas
Even if you had the best Christmas ever, it’s still worth taking the time to think about it. Why? Because science tells us that gratitude and repeating happy memories can make us feel better and are good for our health mentally and emotionally well-being. Being grateful for a good time can trigger the production of dopamine and serotonin – feel-good neurotransmitters – in our brains.
It can also help us manage and reduce stress and the production of the stress hormone cortisol, and may also have a beneficial impact on our cognition and how well our brains work. Feeling grateful can also become a habit and helps us focus on happier momentsreframing the challenging things – so the more we do it, the better. Write down a list of people, experiences and moments for which you are grateful this past Christmas.
An indifferent Christmas
The holidays can be tiring (Picture: Sally Anscombe/Getty/Digital Vision)
Sometimes our Christmas is neither good nor bad; it’s just okay. We tend to have huge expectations about what Christmas Day will be like, and if these aren’t quite met, we can feel disappointment, which can color our view of the day. Try to reframe this and see that a good moment is better than a ‘bad’ moment. Think about how your expectations may have affected your outlook on the day and let them go.
Try to pick some moments that made you feel happy and loved, or moments where you could enjoy some rest and relaxation. Think about what made it not so good and try to identify some themes – these can be helpful find out what makes you happy and what not, which is useful to carry into 2025. Beware of comparisons with friends or colleagues’ accounts of their day, or their Instagram feeds – these are often riddled with filters and selectivity. Find a friend to discuss who is authentic and can tell it like it is.
A tough Christmas
Keep in mind that even if we label something as “bad,” it may not be 100 percent true. In days of challenge, conflict, argument or tension we can find very useful life lessons. We can learn a lot about who we really are, and we have the opportunity to do that opportunity to form relationships better and change the dynamics. Perhaps your family experienced a lot of tension at Christmas, your family was not together, or someone you love has passed away or is no longer a part of your life.
Perhaps you spent the day alone and felt the absence of anyone around, or perhaps your health was not good. Remember, it’s just one day and it doesn’t have to define you. What feelings did you have? What were they trying to tell you about what you want, need, or deserve? What do you want to bring into your life? Make sure you express all those feelings – cry, be sad, breathe, write, move your body and let them pass, and make sure you ask for the support you need.
Christmas is sometimes beautiful, and sometimes not. Life will always change and that is what can give us comfort and hope that tomorrow will be a better day.