WEB EXCLUSIVE

Typically when you think of the holiday season, you imagine the joy of communities and families coming together.  Although the holiday season is an exciting time for many, it can also be lonely if there is no one to spend it with. During the winter season, the mental health of many tends to decline. 

Spending time with family is what makes the holiday season so enjoyable. But sometimes it can be difficult to travel and meet up with the entirety of your family. Especially over the past few years, getting together with family has been one of the hardest things due to covid. The risks that Covid brings to larger gatherings outweigh the benefits. Staying home and spending the holiday season alone can have serious detrimental effects on someone’s mental health. 

Although people may not be able to visit family in person, it is still helpful to keep in touch with family and friends. It is important to make the most out of the holiday season and to enjoy it as much as possible. Check in with the friends and family that you do have and try to make the holiday season better for anyone and everyone.

In the transition from fall to winter, daylight savings time goes into effect. The time changes, falling back an hour,  causing it to get darker earlier in the day. With this loss of sunlight, scientifically the human body produces less serotonin and more melatonin. This affects your mood and causes drowsiness earlier in the day.  This time change and adjustment to daylight causes what most people call a “seasonal” decline in general mental health. 

There are many things you can do to enhance and better your holiday season. You can participate in community events such as ice skating, driving around and looking at Christmas lights, etc.