How To Manage Our Emotions During A Christmas During A Pandemic
The coronavirus crisis has generated a real rupture in all types of social conventions, and has forced us all to take a series of special measures during Christmas celebrations or any other type.
However, beyond the restrictions and precautions applied to minimize the risks of contagion, there are another series of adjustments that we must make to adapt to the circumstances of a Christmas in a pandemic. These are less objective in nature and have to do with Psychology: What can we do to emotionally manage these festivities in a time of social and health crisis? Let’s see several tips in this regard.
Tips to psychologically manage a Christmas during a pandemic
Below we give you several behavioral guidelines and useful tips to not only ensure your physical health (and that of others), but also do everything possible to enhance emotional well-being during a Christmas marked by the coronavirus. Some of them are applicable to the Christmas festivities of any year, and others are designed specifically for the COVID crisis.
1. Set a spending ceiling in response to the desire to “compensate”
One of the main concerns that occurs during the Christmas season is the expense that most families incur in celebrating all types of events, parties and abundant meals with family and loved ones. In this phenomenon there is a part of social pressure fueled by marketing campaigns and consumerism. Besides, Many people try to spend a lot to compensate for the impossibility of spending Christmas together (or the fact of spending it with many physical limitations)
Don’t fall into that trap: if something makes Christmas special, it is its symbolic nature and the fact that it is an excuse to strengthen ties with our loved ones, and this is regardless of what is bought or not bought.
Thus, in order not to overwhelm ourselves excessively and not find surprises in our finances at the end of the month It is advisable to set a maximum expense in advance that should not be exceeded during the celebrations
This is a great relief for many people worried about their financial situation at Christmas, since it ensures prior control over all the expenses that are going to occur for a week or more.
2. Take the test before the meeting
Another of the most useful tips to spend the safest Christmas possible in times of pandemic is suggest that all family members take even a quick test before dinner or any other gathering of non-cohabitants.
In this way we will not only be able to keep the risk of infecting the coronavirus to the elderly or vulnerable family members who are at greater risk of contracting the disease to a minimum, but it will also have an impact on the mood of the attendees and it will be possible to get more out of the event. evening Let’s not forget that Anxiety is often a response to uncertainty and minimizing it in a context of risk of contagion will allow us not to be distracted by fear of the virus.
3. Take advantage of the technological potential of video calls
Nowadays, attendance or non-attendance at a Christmas dinner is relative: video calls offer a live connection that allows you to talk and “be there” virtually, something that people of all ages can benefit from.
Another of the essential keys to having the most peaceful Christmas possible, both during and without a pandemic, is to organize each of the scheduled celebrations efficiently and in advance. Besides, This will prevent us from ending up spending a lot to “compensate” for the lack of planning, something that we already saw can happen. This is important not only to avoid financial problems, but also to enjoy Christmas without suffering from feelings of guilt.
That is why it is so important that each member of the family commits to collaborating so that everything goes correctly and not leaving buying gifts or preparing food until the last minute.
5. Open the windows
Opening the windows for a few minutes with some frequency when we are in indoor places with other people from different bubble groups or people living together has become one of the most common Christmas protocols in recent years. Scientific research carried out in this regard shows that outdoors the risk of contagion is very low so the more we do to convert the place of lunch or dinner into a terrace, the better, and it will also result in the feeling of security of the people present.
6. Keep your distance
Another of the safety protocols to deal with infections that have already become norms of coexistence during day-to-day life is to maintain a distance of one and a half meters between people both outdoors and at home. This involves avoiding long hugs and close contact, but it shouldn’t make communication too difficult at a large table in which it is possible to keep one and a half meters between us and the people most vulnerable to health problems. And as far as possible, we should try to make diners sit, leaving a greater distance between them than usual.
Research carried out on contagion dynamics shows that the risk of the coronavirus being transmitted through direct contact with surfaces is low (at least with the pre-omicron versions). That’s why, Although washing your hands well is more important than in other circumstances, it is advisable not to become obsessed with disinfecting absolutely everything and dedicate our efforts to other, more effective prevention measures.
8. Remember those who are not there
Christmas is a period of celebration with family and friends in which we also tend to remember those loved ones who are no longer sitting at the table with us.
Being with family or other loved ones is a good opportunity to share memories and support others in the possible feelings of discomfort linked to grief
9. Don’t obsess over the perfection of the event
Some people who have high levels of self-demand They can become obsessed with the protocol and that everything goes well during the celebration, and even get very frustrated if it doesn’t.
During Christmas dinner and in subsequent celebrations it is important to relax and spend time having a good time with our family, without obsessing about everything going well, with the food that is going to be served or the clothes we will wear.
10. If you don’t see it clearly, postponing dinner is not a defeat
The cancellation of social events of all kinds is the order of the day and currently it is also common for many Christmas dinners to end up being canceled or postponed due to contagion.
Likewise, if there is a high risk of contagion for very old or sick people, it is also advisable to postpone dinner for later, since The important thing at the end of the day is being together, not when
