Top tips for the festive season

The festive season can be a wonderful time to recharge from the work year, celebrate with friends and family, and prepare for the year ahead. But for many Australians, it can also be a time that is met with increased levels of stress, anxiety and loneliness. It’s important that we all give a little extra care to our mental health and wellbeing during this time of year, as well as caring for those around us if we can. We’ve listed our top tips to help you through this silly season.

Talk about how you feel with friends and family

If you’re feeling a little more stressed or anxious than normal, reach out to your friends and family.

If something is on your mind, whether it’s related to work, family or otherwise, sharing and being listened to can help create feelings of being supported. Sharing your experiences can also work two ways and encourage others to share their feelings with you, too.

The festive season can also be a great opportunity to reconnect with a card, email or phone call if you’re feeling out of touch with others.

Do something mindful

Sometimes setting aside 10 minutes to be mindful is all it takes to improve our wellbeing. Try writing down three things that you’re grateful for, a few minutes to colour while clearing your mind, a walk in nature, or sitting mindfully in a quiet space listening to some music.

Doing one mindful or enjoyable thing each day can help us coast a little more smoothly through the stress of the season. The little moments add up to big things!

Eat well and exercise

What better excuse than the festive season to overindulge? A little bit of overindulgence can be a great thing, but it can have a big impact on how we feel, so try to balance it out over the period. Where possible, eat in a way that makes you feel good. Keeping up with your regular exercise routine and taking advantage of the warmer weather to get outside can also help to reduce stress.

Give to others

Giving to and caring for others is a known way to improve mental health during the festive season. Whether it’s volunteering for the less fortunate, baking for a friend or colleague, or another act of kindness, it can be a deeply rewarding way to spend time and will undoubtedly lift the spirit of others.

Plan some down time

Look at your diary and plan some down time. Be realistic about what you can and can’t do and be kind to yourself. You can’t do it all! Consider whether there is anything you can allocate to January – like catch ups with friends or any engagements that you don’t need to attend – that can free up time (and mental energy) in your calendar. This also includes less urgent work tasks that can be picked up in the new year.

Where to get help if you think you or someone else needs it?

If you, or someone you know needs help and are not coping, here are some links and numbers to contact. Reaching out is winning, it should not be considered defeat:

SANE Australia (people living with a mental illness) Phone: 1800 18 7263
Beyond Blue (anyone feeling depressed or anxious) Phone: 1300 22 4636 or chat online
Black Dog Institute (people affected by mood disorders) Online help
Lifeline (anyone having a personal crisis) Phone: 13 11 14 or chat online
Suicide Call Back Service (anyone thinking about suicide) Phone: 1300 659 467

REMEMBER: Listen, Look and Ask.

IF YOU THINK THAT THERE IS AN IMMEDIATE RISK OF SELF HARM CALL (000)

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MetLife offers 360Health Virtual Care at no additional cost to eligible MetLife customers* via Teladoc Health and to get started, it is as easy as...