ELEMENTARY SEL & Wellness

Maintaining positive mental health at Christmas means focusing on the joyful aspects of the season like spending time with loved ones, engaging in traditions, practicing gratitude, setting realistic expectations, prioritizing self-care, and actively managing potential stressors like social comparisons or financial pressure; essentially, creating a sense of connection and belonging while taking care of your own needs.

Key strategies for positive mental health at Christmas:

• Connect with loved ones: Prioritize quality time with family and friends, fostering a sense of belonging and community.
• Practice gratitude: Keep a gratitude journal or consciously reflect on the positive aspects of your life, especially during the holidays.
• Set realistic expectations: Avoid comparing your Christmas to idealized portrayals and focus on what truly matters to you.
• Engage in traditions: Participating in cherished holiday activities can bring positive emotions and a sense of nostalgia.
• Self-care practices: Prioritize enough sleep, healthy eating, exercise, and relaxation techniques like meditation or deep breathing.
• Limit social media comparison: Be mindful of the many images on social media and avoid comparing your Christmas to others.
• Volunteer or give back: Helping others can boost your mood and sense of purpose.
• Mindful spending: Focus on meaningful gifts and experiences rather than excessive material possessions.
• Seek support if needed: If you are struggling with your mental health, reach out to a therapist, counselor, or support group. The Christmas season can be a difficult time for people with mental health issues and for those who have lost loved ones.

The festive season can be a time of joy and spending time with loved ones but it can also be a stressful and lonely period. If you find that you are feeling a little more stressed than usual during this holiday season, you’re definitely not alone. Nearly nine in 10 (89%) Americans are experiencing stress or feeling overwhelmed during this time. During this time, it is important to try to remember to look after your mental health and well-being.

When we are stressed, we need to be sure we are coping with it in the best ways possible. When stress gets the best of us, we may turn to less healthy means of coping. Here are some ways tomake the season less stressful and more fun.

1. Don’t over schedule yourself

The holiday season is a time of parties and other social gatherings. Remember that you don't have to do it all. Figure out what you really enjoy versus what you feel you’re supposed to do. Focus the majority of your energy and time on activities that are fun for you and avoid those less enjoyable activities. Your happiness is an important consideration in planning how you spend your time.

2. Simplify travel and limit car time

Travel can be especially stressful during the holiday season. If you must travel, do what you can to make it as easy as possible on yourself. Try to get direct flights or at least minimize the number of stops along the way to keep from rushing from one plane to the next or having to wait around for long periods of time.

Many people complain about spending too much time in the car during the holiday season driving from one gathering to the next. This can be exhausting. If possible, limit your driving to one or two events that you truly want to attend. It's part of setting healthy boundaries and keeping a reasonable schedule.

3. Manage gift giving

For many, the holidays are a time of gift giving. This can be a lot of fun, but it can also be financially stressful. Do your best to make a budget and stay within the spending limits that you have set.

You're not obligated to spend beyond your means, and you will very likely regret it if you do. Even a small gift lets people know you cherish them. Bigger is not necessarily better. Consider making gifts, instead of buying. Thoughtful handmade gifts, photographs and homemade goodies are often appreciated. And the process of preparing them can become a fun holiday tradition for you.

4. Be responsible about food and alcohol consumption

Do your best to stick with healthy eating choices. Moderation is key, especially with holiday treats and alcohol. Many of us succumb to the pressure to overeat or drink to excess during the holidays. Try to stay within your usual guidelines for healthy eating and responsible drinking. Remember to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

5. Enjoy family on your terms

While it can be enjoyable to see family during the holidays, some people find extended family time to be stressful. Do whatever you need to do to take care of yourself. If necessary, take a break from the gathering. Go for a walk. Call someone you enjoy talking to. Take some alone time if you need it.

6. Take time for yourself

Consider giving yourself the gift of time during the holidays. Take a break from the rushing around, the shopping, the cooking, and the cleaning. Set aside time to read a good book, watch your favorite movie, go for a bike ride or take a nap.

7. Honor the losses of the year

The holidays can be especially challenging for those of us who have lost loved ones. Be sure to make space for your grief. Consider changing up your traditions to make your feelings of loss more manageable. You can also find a new way to weave in the memory of your loved one into your existing holiday traditions.

8. Ask for help

While the holiday blues are common during this time of year, extreme anxiety or depression should not be ignored. If you know Christmas time is typically hard for you, lean on your friends and family. Talk to them about how you're feeling and let them help you set boundaries and practice self-care. If you're experiencing severe emotional, mental or psychological struggles, talk to your doctor. Therapy, counseling, and medication are all useful tools to help manage mental health challenges.

9. Talk about your feelings

It's hard to admit that at such an exciting time of year you don't actually feel that great, but talking about your feelings can improve your mood and make it easier to deal with the tough times. It's part of taking charge or 'self-managing' your mental well-being and doing what you can to stay healthy. It's important to create space for these conversations and also worth identifying who you can speak to if you are concerned about your well-being.

10. Do something you are good at

What do you love doing? What activities can you lose yourself in? Enjoying yourself helps beat stress. As busy as the holiday season gets, try and keep up the activities and hobbies you enjoy all year round. You could turn these into festive activities, like making gifts, cooking mince pies or playing your musical instruments to Christmas songs!

11. Keep in touch

When putting the finishing touches on holiday plans, we can often become distracted from the support systems around us and lose our footing. Friends and family can make you feel included and cared for. They can offer different views from whatever is going on inside your own head, keep you grounded and help you solve practical problems - enjoy this time to catch up.

12. Accept who you are

Some of us make people laugh, and others cook fantastic meals. Some of us share our lifestyle with the people who live close to us and others live very differently. If you have mental health problems, don't feel under pressure to do more than you feel up to this Christmas.

13. Keep active

It's no surprise that cold weather and short days are not the greatest motivation to get you out of bed and on a 5k run! However, research shows that doing exercise releases chemicals in your body that can make you feel good. Regular exercise can boost your self-esteem and help you to concentrate, sleep and feel better. Exercise also keeps the brain and your other vital organs healthy. So, use that Christmas spirit for physical health as well as mental health - you might even enjoy the crisp air!

14. Take a break

The holiday season is a perfect time to take some time out of your day-to-day life and gain some perspective to reflect on the year. Whether spending time away from home or a stay-cation, re-energize by giving yourself a change of scene or pace. It's good for you! Practicing mindfulness can be a great way to unwind.

15. Care for others

Present buying is not the only way of showing that we care about others. Christmas is the perfect time to reach out to loved ones who you haven’t spent much time with this year - ask how they’ve been and whether they have plans for the holidays. Caring for others is an important part of keeping up relationships with people close to you. It can bring you closer together and make you feel good!

16. Wind down after Christmas

After Christmas is over, letting yourself have a little time to relax is important. You may play with your new "toys", read a good book, get a massage, exercise, and start thinking of those New Year's Resolutions.

Hunt Elementary and John C French will host Kathy Scott, district social worker, who will provide donuts and hot chocolate for parents who attend the next parenting circle. The December topic, "Tips for Helping Your Child Succeed", will benefit both parents and their children, and all parents are encouraged to attend. Attendees will share information with each other on topics such as: helping with homework, school attendance, benefits of reading, how to get our children to open up and share their school experiences and feelings, extra-cirricular activities and many other topics.

Chances to win door prizes are available, and students whose parents attend the meeting will win a free dress pass at both Hunt Elementary on Wedensday, December 4th, and John C French on Wednesday, December 11th. Both classes are at 8:15 a.m. Please direct any questions to Kathy Scott at 361-275-4782.

The Hunt Elementary Bully Buster Kindness Club perform skits in the cafeteria each month while students are able to eat their lunches as they watch the 5-7 minutes skits. The Bully Busters have competed skits on cooperation, responsibility, respect and gratitude. These traits follow the character traits being focused on each month by the school counselor and teachers. The December character trait is honesty. Please encourage your students to share the monthly character traits with you at home so you may emphasize the importance of each one.

Volunteers from 4th and 5th grade Bully Busters do performances for each grade level during their lunch periods. Students have almost unanimously asked for the skits to continue, and they have reported that it helps remind them of the right things to do.

Pictured below are the Bully Busters completing the Gratitude skit on 11-18-24. Pictured from left to right include: Peyton Lempke, Raelynn Cox, Brook Sipps, and Paisley McCurry.

The Christmas season is a wonderful time of the year, and there many you can do throughout December to celebrate. Many activities cost little to nothing which helps keep the stress level down.

Choose some of your favorite, and make plans to celebrate Christmas including some of your favorite activities.

1. Attend a Christmas tree lighting

2. Host a "White Elephant" gift exchange with friends, family or co-workers

3. Play Christmas trivia - with the winner getting a candy cane or a piece of candy as a prize

4. Make a wreath

5. Do a good deed - it will make you feel good inside to help someone else

6. Sing Christmas songs or carols

7. Visit an elderly person - they will enjoy your company

8. Make a Christmas treat

9. Play games near the Christmas tree

10. Wear matching pajamas

11. Attend a Christmas church service

12. Make decorations out of Christmas cards

13. Hand deliver Christmas cards - save that postage

14. Have a gift wrapping race

15. Drive through the park looking at the Christmas lights

16. Count your blessings and be grateful for them

17. Make your own Christmas cards

18. Volunteer your time

19. Make a playlist of your favorite Christmas music

20. Watch all of your favorite Christmas movies

TCHATT provides telemedicine or telehealth programs to school districts to help identify and assess the behavioral health needs of children and adolescents and provide access to mental health services. Cuero ISD is proud to be part of this program that helps students get access to mental health treatment and resources. This program is free for students and is available throughout the year, even in the summer. If you would like more information about TCHATT, you can visit their website https://tcmhcc.utsystem.edu/tchatt/ or contact Kathy Scott at kfscott@cueroisd.org.

Ruby Rodriguez, M.Ed. ~ Director of Special Programs

Lacy Timpone, M.Ed., LPC ~ School Climate Specialist

Courtney Kalinowski, M.S., LPC ~ School Climate Specialist

Kathy Scott, LMSW ~ School Climate Specialist

Website: https://www.cueroisd.org/
Location: 960 E Broadway St, Cuero, TX, USA
Phone: 361-275-1900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cueroisd