How to Survive Loneliness and Make Sure Your Relationships Withstand the Turbulence of the Holiday Season

It’s the holiday season, and with it comes a mix of feelings from loneliness and frustration to happiness and love. We experience all of these emotions, but loneliness and frustration become heightened when you add a pandemic and social distancing to the mix.

Now, this doesn’t mean you can’t have lots of happiness and harmony. And it doesn’t mean you have to hide away at home or stir up drama with your loved ones.

If anything, you can use this pandemic as an opportunity to develop more meaningful relationships with your family and friends. Yes, I know it sounds counterintuitive, but it’s not.

So, here are three ways you can build harmonious relationships this holiday season … even during a pandemic.

Way #1: Make Your Relationships a Priority

Whether you’re traveling to visit family or hunkering down at home, use this time to make your relationships a priority.

Check in on your loved ones. Let them know you’re thinking about them and that you appreciate all they do. If you’re not meeting in person this holiday, then connect with them via Zoom or send them a special holiday note in the mail.

You see, when you open yourself up for connection and conversation, you’ll realize how much better everything feels, even if you don’t agree with everything your loved ones are saying. The reality is that having these connections will help with any feelings of loneliness you might be experiencing.

Way #2: Honor Your Differences and Be Generous

Be generous and respect others’ opinions. I know this can sometimes be hard, but it’s essential, especially now. The bottom line is that this pandemic has changed all our lives and made us a little more on edge and, as such, oftentimes more argumentative.

Understand this, and realize that regardless of the relationship, you are being offered a chance to drop past grudges and blame and accept and honor your family or significant other, even if you don’t see eye-to-eye on every issue.

Use this as an opportunity to go deeper into your differences while honoring each other’s viewpoints and beliefs.

Way #3: Breathe Deeply

As simple as this sounds, taking time to breathe deeply and step back from a tense or stressful situation is vital to not only your peace of mind, but to your relationships as well.

If you think things are getting stressful or conversations are becoming tense, remember to breathe and take some time to step back and reflect. Don’t think you immediately have to respond to a family member or situation. Honor your own space and your mental health.

_________________

With an influx in social events, family gatherings, expectations from loved ones and the stress that comes with the holiday season, it’s normal to find yourself feeling isolated, lonely or even seeing increased tension in your relationships during this time of year. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

There are ways to celebrate more joy and cheer and make your relationships more resilient this holiday season. And the team at Affinity Health is here to support you.

Book your free therapy session here: Dare to Live Happy Consultation and let us help you sort out your feelings before holiday stress takes over.