Holiday Wellness: Tips for Mental and Physical Health

Holiday Wellness: Tips for Mental and Physical Health

RACINE, WI – Maintaining your holiday health is critical to enjoying the festive season.

For physical health, make sure you’re up-to-date on COVID-19 and flu vaccines. Cases of flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19 have risen in Wisconsin this month. As of mid-November, only 22 percent of Wisconsinites had received flu shots, and 11 percent had gotten the updated COVID-19 vaccine.

‘Any time is a good time to get vaccinated, but if you haven’t yet, at least two weeks ahead of holiday gatherings is really the best time to get vaccinated,’ said Dr. Stephanie Schauer, Immunization Program Manager for the Department of Health Services (DHS). ‘It takes a couple of weeks after getting a vaccine for your body to build protection against these viruses, which can protect you from getting really sick and can help prevent you from spreading illness to others.’

DHS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend the following vaccines:

• Flu: For everyone 6 months and older.
• COVID-19: For everyone 6 months and older. Those 65 and older and people with moderate or severe immunocompromised conditions should receive a second dose of the updated vaccine six months after the first.
• RSV: For pregnant individuals, children under 9 months, and adults 75 and older. Young children (ages 9-19 months) and adults (ages 60-74) at higher risk are also encouraged to get immunized.

To schedule a vaccine, Wisconsinites can contact their primary care provider, local or Tribal health department, community clinic, or visit vaccines.gov. For those without health insurance or if insurance does not cover vaccines, programs like Vaccines for Children and Vaccines for Adults are available.

‘Wisconsin tends to see an uptick in flu, RSV, and COVID-19 related hospitalizations after the November holidays,’ said Tom Haupt, Respiratory Disease Epidemiologist at DHS. ‘If you are planning to gather for the holidays and are feeling sick, stay home and talk to a doctor about getting tested for COVID-19, influenza, RSV, or other respiratory viruses.’

Beyond vaccines, preventive measures include regular handwashing, cleaning surfaces, gathering outdoors when possible, eating a healthy diet, exercising, staying hydrated, and getting sufficient rest.

Managing Mental Health

Handling stress during the holidays is also crucial. A survey by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) found that 64 percent of people living with a mental illness reported worsening conditions, including depression and anxiety, during Thanksgiving and Christmas. Contributing factors include grief, difficult family interactions, gift-giving pressures, economic concerns, and shorter days.

To support mental health during the holidays, consider the following:

• Recognize your emotions: Acknowledge feelings of sadness. It’s normal to have mixed emotions during the season.
• Have a stress plan: Engage in activities that make you happy, like calling a friend, walking, or watching a favorite movie.
• Practice self-care: Schedule time for yourself, including activities like reading, deep breathing, meditation, and maintaining a balanced diet.
• Connect with community: If you can’t be with family, seek support through groups, community centers, religious organizations, or local clubs.
• Support others: Check in on those who might be experiencing grief or loss.
• Avoid alcohol and drugs: Holidays can be challenging for those in recovery. Plan how to handle social situations and loneliness that might lead to substance use.

If mental health struggles feel unmanageable, it may be time to seek help from a therapist.