Staying Up When the Holidays Bring You Down

I’m writing this piece because this winter break has been a rough one for me mentally. As a neurospicy (neurodivergent) individual, the lack of structure and return to a different environment during winter break has made it hard for me to maintain a sleep schedule, social calendar, and overall just take care of myself. So here I am to try and heal something in me through my advice to you on how to avoid falling into a negative pattern while home for break. 

Let yourself take a break. Sleep in, do something that makes you feel happy, and recharge. Do something for yourself. I know for some people that might be getting your nails done, buying yourself a book you’ve been looking forward to reading, or maybe it’s just a day at home to watch TV. Personally, I enjoy putting headphones on and roaming through my local thrift store for hours. I will warn you, however, if you are someone prone to mental illness or function better with a schedule this one can be tricky. I’m learning from this break because too much “break” has made it harder for me to be productive and has me clinging to my introverted nature. So while it is important to go easy on yourself, listen to this next reminder:

Make Plans. Whether this be lunch with a friend, work, a trip to the grocery store, or a walk, make a plan. It is easier for me if I have someone else to hold me accountable, such as making plans to go and do things with friends. I am studying abroad this semester and most of my friends have gone back to school already, so something else I’ve been trying to do is make plans with myself. It’s harder for me to get up and just go do something, so instead I plan ahead. On Monday I’ll sit and think, “On Wednesday at 3 p.m., I’m going to go to this place and do that thing”, sometimes writing it down helps, but this way I know in advance I am going to take that time to get myself ready. For my mentally ill girlies, this works on a smaller scale too, like, “Tomorrow I’m going to set my alarm, and after I’ve gotten ready I’m going to clean my room. That is my job for tomorrow.” This can still be hard to accomplish, but I find it’s easier to do if I’ve been expecting I’ll have to do it. 

Be nice to yourself. This is something I believe I am constantly working on. I’ve found myself missing my friends, feeling stuck in a time vacuum, and with a messed up sleep schedule. It’s easy to get upset with myself for not doing more or waking up early, but I keep taking a step back and a deep breath. Cut yourself some slack and remember that you are human. I understand that being home for the holidays might mean a lot of things to a lot of people, but if what I said has resonated with you, I encourage you to check out Arcadia’s Counseling Services here and know that you are not alone.