ASU Wellness Officer discusses potential challenges and strategies for families as they reintegrate this holiday season

For many, 2021 provided a much needed sense of normalcy, especially compared to the year before.

Even though the pandemic is still hiding, the widespread distribution of safe and effective vaccines and a better understanding of how COVID-19 is contracted and can be treated have helped people feel more comfortable returning to a fad. of modified pre-pandemic life.

One of the activities that is expected to rebound significantly this year is vacation travel – after experiencing the expected decline last year as cases rose nationwide.

With reasons to be optimistic, families are starting to cautiously plan to restart holiday gatherings or, in some cases, reject old traditions after a forced disruption.

“It may be that some of the things people did before the pandemic regarding holiday traditions no longer serve them, or feel manageable almost two years later and that’s okay,” he said. Arizona State University welfare officer Judith Karshmer said. Director and Dean of Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation.

Between the severity of the pandemic, the grief of losing loved ones, and the general stress and anxiety that can arise for people during the holidays, Karshmer predicts this coming season could be particularly difficult for many.

In this question-and-answer session, she discusses potential challenges and strategies for families and loved ones as they begin to reintegrate this holiday season.

Question: While last year’s vacation may have been reserved for close friends and family, this year many people are hoping to resume their activities as usual. Is it advisable?

A: It is always advisable to connect with our family and friends – that is how to do it that is the question. The only reason to spend time with our loved ones is that we love being with them, so of course we want to make sure they stay healthy so that they are there for us in the future.

What could be a better motivation to get the vaccine than knowing that it will not only protect you, but your family and friends as well?

For those of us fortunate enough to live in Arizona, this year could be a good year to move large family reunions outside. For people traveling in colder climates, be sure to mask yourself when visiting close-up and crowded situations.

The CDC has shared its updated guidelines for this holiday season, and it’s no surprise that its recommendations revolve around vaccine status. It’s a good resource to keep on hand and to refer to when considering travel and event plans.

Q: What steps would you recommend if you are getting together with friends and family?

A: It may sound like a broken record, but make sure you have already had the conversation with the person you will be spending time with about immunization status. Avoiding surprises will undoubtedly lead to a smoother reunion. To this end, if you know someone is not vaccinated, you should wear a mask and monitor your proximity to each other.

On a more personal level, we often feel that it is our right to tell our family and friends what to say, do and how to act. It didn’t work very well before the pandemic, and it probably won’t work now. So, rather than getting into unbeatable arguments, make the most of the precious time you spend with them instead of trying to change long-held views.

If there’s one key thing we’ve learned over the past couple of years, it’s how quickly our lives can change as a result of something beyond our control: focus on what you can control, your response to that. that you don’t control and your attitude towards tuning.

Q: How can we deal with possible feelings of anxiety?

A: First, I think it’s important to recognize that for a lot of people, the holidays are actually something to dread. And as a result, this whole cheerful and jovial attitude becomes quite off-putting. Nothing makes you feel worse than feeling sad and lonely when everyone else seems so happy and connected.

So I suggest being gentle with yourself and others because you don’t always know what’s really going on in someone’s life. And the world would be a better place, really, if we were all a little nicer to each other.

It’s also good to remember that for all of us, the holidays can be about loss. Due to the intensity of the past two years, that feeling of loss or anxiety, or that feeling of sadness may be even more acute this year.

The last thing you need to do is try to run away from these feelings. A better approach is to give yourself permission to feel and use that to motivate yourself to take care of yourself. Rather than avoiding that feeling, lean over it and do whatever brings you into contact with yourself. For me, it’s a long walk, a bike ride, listening to an interesting playlist, reading and sometimes getting a massage!

Question: How do holiday traditions continue if a loved one is no longer with us this year due to COVID-19?

A: Holiday traditions are not static and change over time. We add family members, children, spouses, boys and girlfriends, and each carves out a new place for themselves in our centuries-old tradition. When we lose a loved one, their place is not lost – we feel it quite intensely.

Honor them by taking the time to remember them. Taking the time to remember stories, events, disagreements and love can be a key part of moving the tradition forward.

Question: After spending time with your loved ones, are there any steps you would recommend to decompress?

A: The point is, most of us will need some recovery time. After being with family and friends in time and often in space, navigating the feelings, emotions and stressors that we have already mentioned, we are going to need some time to relax. Take it!

Treat yourself to a little moment of solitude to remember, savor and catalog the holidays. Even the not-so-perfect parts – if there were any – are there to keep us focused on all of our relationships and on the richness and complexity of being loved and being part of a family.

Question: What resources would you suggest to anyone who might need help navigating this season?

A: Remember, if you are a student and need help dealing with your feelings, worries or concerns during the holiday season or anytime, you have access to a 24/7 counselor. , wherever you are in the world.

ASU employees have their own resource and can connect to similar services through the university employee assistance program.

If you are not an employee or a student, I suggest the wonderful and free content and meditations available through the ASU Center for Mindfulness, Compassion and Resilience. You don’t need any experience or training to benefit from any of the centre’s meditation sessions – a few minutes and access to YouTube.

And beyond that, I would feel that each of us already has an array of resources to help us get through any stressful or happy experience. On the outside are our family, friends and co-workers, to name a few. Internally, we have our exquisite knowledge of ourselves, our strengths and weaknesses. Shamelessly tap all these resources when needed, and try to enjoy the holidays!

Written by Gabriella Kemp and Amanda Goodman. Top photo courtesy of pixabay.com