Emergencies do not stop for the holidays, and neither do First Responders. As a public safety professional, working through the holidays while trying to maintain your family life, personal health, and social life may feel like juggling more than you can handle. As a result, you may find yourself attending more to one over the other, leading you to feel off balance.
As the holiday season approaches, many of us recognize the increased amount of stress that accompanies this time of year. On top of the heightened anxiety in the air, first responders must also deal with increased work schedule conflicts, and many cannot get the time off to spend with family and friends. Trying to find a balance between all these commitments can lead to an elevation in mental strain. To help ease any overwhelming feelings, it can be helpful to determine your priorities, schedule them to the best of your ability, maintain healthy habits, and communicate any emotions you find hard to handle.
Determine Your Priorities
First Responders often already have a strong knowledge of what their priorities, as this is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. However, during the holidays, new obligations arise, and your priorities may shift. To help manage this, try writing down a quick list of things you are thankful for. Taking the time to look closely at what really matters to you can help you get your priorities straight. It can also help you find some peace in letting go of certain things that are not essential. Once you realize what is important and what is not, letting go of what is less important will give you more time to pay attention to what is.
Plan Ahead and Be as Realistic as You Can
We are continuously shown picturesque family holidays online, on TV, and in advertisements. In reality, every family is going to celebrate a little differently. Avoid comparing what other people are doing for the holidays with what you are doing. Take the time to plan ahead with reasonable expectations by looking at the schedules of your family and friends. Sometimes, this may mean celebrating a day before or after the actual holiday or having multiple celebrations with extended relatives. If you can game plan ahead of time, the less stress you may feel as the holidays get closer.
Maintain Healthy Habits
As much as the holidays are about being thankful and spending time with loved ones, there is often an atmosphere of indulgence around eating, drinking, and gift-giving. It is important to remember during these times that your health and well-being are a priority too. When we overeat, stay up too late, and fail to get some exercise, our bodies and minds feel the consequence. To avoid this, keep up with the healthy habits you usually implement. You can also use portion control during meals, meditating, and going for walks.
Acknowledge Your Emotions and Communicate Them
It may feel too overwhelming to process your emotions when you have so much going on. However, avoiding your emotions or bottling them up may only lead to worse problems down the line. It is normal for all kinds of new emotions to arise during the holidays. Allowing yourself to be open to the people you trust may help alleviate any stress or turmoil you feel in yourself. When you are able to get a handle on the emotions that are weighing you down, you can make more room for positive feelings instead of putting on a façade of happiness in front of family and friends.
It’s Okay to Say “No”
To avoid spreading yourself too thin during the holidays, realize it is okay to say “no” to certain things that are conflicting with your priorities. Attending every event or occasion can often put a strain on your mental health and well-being, especially if some of them conflict with your other priorities. If something interferes with your family, mental health, or anything else you wrote down on your list of priorities, set it aside and say no. Many people will understand that you have limited free-time because of your schedule. Politely saying “no” to an event can make more room for you to say “yes” to your priorities so that you can be more present and enjoy each moment of the holidays.
The holidays can make it hard for anyone to balance their priorities. This time of year can bring to light any mental health concerns or challenges a person has been struggling with. With years of experience serving First Responders and their families, our Family of Companies has a distinctive view of their career and family life – from new recruit training, wellness visits, peer support services, counseling, crisis support, department training, and long-term treatment. We are here to help. Email info@frhealth.com or call 888.443.4898 to connect with our team.
