The holidays are supposed to be a time of warmth, joy and excitement. But the holidays can also be stressful. Too much to do in too little time, unrealistic expectations, and other pressures can lead to anxiety. Missing loved ones and stewing about past events can also contribute. This change from your everyday routine can cause you to neglect good nutrition. Also, you are more likely to skip exercise. Together, these factors can lead to holiday blues. Below are some articles, tips, and other resources we hope will help during this upcoming holiday season!

Preparing for the Holidays during COVID-19.

Last year we felt the effects of holidays during a pandemic. And as we enter another COVID holiday season, traveling, large group gatherings and even past traditions may still look different.  Mental Health America offers the following tips to Prepare for this holiday season during COVID-19. (Read the full post here.)

  • Identify How You’re Feeling – many of us are feeling several different emotions right now. Journaling, talking to a friend, or just spending some quiet time thinking can help you identify and sort through these emotions. Once you identify how you feel, you can start making plans to cope with them.
  • Acknowledge What You’ve Lost – take time to acknowledge anything you’ve lost (job, income, loved ones, pets, missed opportunities). Even acknowledging the loss of our sense of normalcy is okay to grieve!
  • Make The Most Of It – While your plans may look different, now is a chance to start new traditions or find creative ways to engage and adapt celebrations within your restrictions.
  • Practice Gratitude – Gratitude is a major focus this time of year, and while it may seem harder to find things to appreciate, there is still plenty to be thankful for. Make a conscious effort to regularly identify some things that you’re grateful for.

Utilize our Employee Assistance Program

All ESD 112 employees have access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by Cascade Centers.  The EAP offers a wide variety of webinars, articles, tips and crisis support on a wide variety of topics.  Below is a list of articles related to Holiday Stress.  You may need to sign in to your existing EAP member account or create an account to view them. (Enter ESD 112 as the company name when creating your account).

12 Ways to Keep the Holidays Stress-Free

Help for the Holiday Blues

A Holiday Help Guide for Stepfamilies

7 Smart Spending Tips to Avoid the Holiday Humbug

How to be Thankful this Thanksgiving

Start some Health Holiday Traditions

And Remember…
Our EAP is available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a year, year-round!
You can reach out by phone or text/chat for emotional and wellness support anytime.

Toll Free: 800-433-2320
Text: 503-850-7721
Email: (for non-urgent/crisis support) info@cascadecenters.com