By Karen Valencia
It’s that time of year, the weather is changing, there are lights adorning trees on almost every block in the neighborhood, but there’s is still a pandemic keeping everyone from fully enjoying time out with friends and family.
Everyone has also been asked to isolate themselves or socially distance themselves. This has affected the mental health of many. Especially this time of year emotions can be affected because of the holidays. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 64% of people with mental illness report holidays make their condition worse.
Some of the following tips will help people who are trying to work on self-love or trying to boost their mood during these difficult times.
First tip is not to isolate oneself. It is a form of self-harm. This might seem contradictory to the whole isolation the world health organization is asking people to partake in, but there are still google hangouts, zoom meetings and other online forums where people gather. It is a good way to keep in touch with friends and meet new people as well. It helps boost one’s mood and keeps people from feeling alone, especially during the holidays.
Second tip is to treat yourself as you would a friend. It is always a good idea to be kind to yourself. There are times when people can be really mean to themselves by thinking negative things of their person, or situation. It is a good way to get away from those thoughts to think of themselves as their friend. If someone’s friend is going through a tough situation it would be more practical to show support and appreciation to that friend.
Next tip would be to learn to enjoy imperfection. This is a little more difficult because most people are taught to do good and make things to be as close to perfect as possible. Therefore, when something goes wrong, negative emotions can arise; but it’s good to tell oneself that everything will be ok. Accepting things as they come and understanding that there are things no one can control.
In conclusion, self-love comes from seeking positive things within oneself. It is difficult to do that, but healing isn’t always easy; yet the end result will be better in the long run.
