Published on 12/22/20

Practice self-care to combat holiday stress

By Keishon Thomas

Whether you are planning to celebrate the holidays face-to-face or virtually, it is understandable if you are feeling mentally drained. As we face the challenges of navigating the holidays safely, there are a variety of ways to focus on mental health.

Here are a few tips to help you relax, relate and release this season:

Move your body: Whether it involves walking, yoga or dancing like no one is watching, physical activity can have a significant impact on your mental health, decrease blood pressure and lower blood sugar levels. Get moving!

Unplug: Information overload is a real thing. Monitor your media intake — in other words, unplug. Recently I have begun to utilize the "Do Not Disturb" function on my mobile phone. It has allowed me to focus on what is important at the moment, recenter and realize the world is still spinning even though I unplugged for a few hours.

Stay present and focused: This is my daughter's senior year in high school. I am keenly aware that time waits on no one. I have found that staying focused and present (even if said senior takes cursory looks at her phone) encourages deeper, more meaningful conversations with her.

Stay social: We have a variety of means to reach out and connect with others. Rethink how you connect. Calling someone or meeting up for a socially distanced walk is a great way to boost your mental well-being.

My family will be having a virtual Christmas brunch. Sure, we will all be in our own homes, but we will be together. And that is what counts.

For more tips on health, dealing with holiday stress and more, visit extension.uga.edu/publications.

Keishon Thomas is the University of Georgia Extension family and consumer sciences agent in Bibb County.

Authors:

Keishon Thomas

Experts/Sources:

Keishon Thomas

Whether it involves walking, yoga or dancing like no one is watching, physical activity can have a significant impact on your mental health, decrease blood pressure and lower blood sugar levels.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Download Image

Women play a vital role in rural American farming, but much of that work is "invisible," like raising children or household chores, according to a new UGA study. (Getty Images)

CAES News

The women and stress behind rural farming in America 11/19/24 Leigh Hataway

Recent research from the University of Georgia suggests the unique stresses from farm life may be taking a toll on one of the pillars of the families that make your dinners possible: the women who keep farming families running. “If we don’t control our food sources, we don’t control our health and safety,” said Anna Scheyett, lead author of the study and a professor in UGA’s School of Social Work. “It’s a matter of national security that farmers survive in the United States. And one of the big factors in helping farms survive is women.”

03 20 2024 Farm Stress Summit Allisen Penn and panel 048

CAES News

2024 Farm Stress Summit provides mental health resources for Georgia farm communities 03/25/24 Jordan Powers

As Georgia’s No. 1 industry, agriculture pumps billions of dollars into the state’s economy each year. While headlines often highlight Georgia’s commodities — peanuts, blueberries, poultry and more — one aspect of agriculture is often not discussed, the farmers themselves. At the 2024 Farm Stress Summit, held at the Chattahoochee Technical College Jasper campus, a few critical points were woven throughout each of the day’s sessions: The people are the most important part of Georgia’s agricultural industry, and the state needs to come together to help farmers and promote agricultural education and awareness.

CAES News

Farm Stress Summit to address mental health challenges among Georgia farming communities 03/04/24

The prevalence of mental health challenges experienced by farm families and farming communities in Georgia is staggering. Faced with unfavorable weather, unfriendly economic conditions, labor shortages and more, farmers of all types often cope with the pressures of their profession in unhealthy ways, including considering suicide. On March 20, UGA faculty and farmers, agricultural community members and mental health stakeholders will convene at the 2024 Farm Stress Summit to look for opportunities to support Georgia’s farm families.

CAES News

From forces of nature to inflation, stressors have an outsized impact on farmers and their families 11/16/23 Maria M. Lameiras

Farmers are tough. They work long days at physically demanding, often dangerous work and rarely get a break, much less a vacation. Months of hard work can be wiped out with a few days of bad weather, and they battle nature at every turn, from drought and floods to weeds and insects. Farmers and ranchers rank high on the list of most stressful professions and farmer suicide rates are higher than the overall population of workers.

CAES News

Breaking stigma: Mental health solutions in farming and rural communities 11/15/23 Jordan Powers

Explore the heart of rural Georgia in this episode as we discuss the intersection of social work, agriculture and mental well-being with Anna Scheyett, professor in the CAES Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication (ALEC) and former dean at the University of Georgia's School of Social Work. Anna shares how she is building more robust networks to dismantle mental health stigmas, advocate for farmers' health and mental well-being, and highlight the statewide work being done to promote resilience and build support in the communities that provide our food, fuel and fiber.

The caterpillar relies on its appearance to deter attackers and, when disturbed, it aggressively twists and writhes on the ground to defend itself. In its final, less terrifying form, the regal moth displays autumnal-colored wings in shades of deep orange with gray stripes and yellow spots. (Art by Jay B. Bauer)

CAES News

Unveiling the fearsome hickory horned devil 10/25/23 Emily Cabrera

With a name that conjures the spookiest Halloween imagery, the hickory horned devil (Citheronia regalis) caterpillar is a marvel of nature's creativity, boasting a fearsome-looking appearance that is both off-putting and intriguing. This time of year, unsuspecting passersby may have the rare chance to spot this spectacular caterpillar as it drops from trees.