holiday self-care guide

Holiday Self-care GuideManaging Your Mental Health Throughout the Holidays

Table of contentsi. Letter from the Editor – Page 3ii. Why It’s Okay to Not be Excited for Winter Break – Pages 4-5iii. Being Mindful Throughout the Holidays – Pages 6-7iv. 10 Ways to Practice Gratitude – Pages 8-10v. To My Significant Other On the Days That I Struggle – Pages 11-

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Editor’s letter

Happy Holidays! 🎄 ⛄️

This is one of my favorite times of year –the food, the music, the movies!!! I’m a cornball (and a sucker for anything with *Christmas* in the title). Self-care is super important to me, and the holiday season is one of my only chances to head home (to Alberta) and spend time with family. In fact, I’m taking 2 weeks off to focus on self-care and family time. I’ve encouraged our Wear Your Label team to also take lots of self-care time – which is why some things will be a little slower on our end until the first week of January. We like to practice what we preach 🙌Despite how much I love the holidays, I recognize that for many of us living with mental illness, the holidays can be a struggle. So this year, I was inspired to create a small Holiday Edition Magazine to act as a self-care guide over the next week – and to remind you that you’re not alone in feeling anxious and depressed.

I’ve handpicked my favourite blog posts of the season, written by Wear Your Label Campus Reps. I sincerely hope this can be a package of inspiration and *realness*; something not only helpful, but relatable. Please feel free to share this edition with friends, family members, or anyone who you think could use a boost during the holidays. ❤ ️

Lots of love,

Kayley reedCEO & Editor-in-ChiefWear Your Label


I’m not excited for winter break (and that’s ok)


by Liliana Comito

It feels like all college students are supposed to be super excited to go home for winter break, especially those who live far away from home, like me, but that’s not the case here. I would really prefer to stay in school and keep to my regular schedule. Don’t get me wrong, I really can’t wait to see my family and my dog, but routine is very important to me. I’ve noticed that whenever I have time off from classes, I fall into temporary depressions; I can’t do anything productive and I barely get out of my bed.

My anxious mind needs routine and plans to stay on track.

I need to stay busy in order to keep control over my mental state because if there isn’t an obligation forcing me up in the morning, I just won’t get up. I always plan to do fun crafts and things that make me happy, but my to-do list never gets checked off completely. I’m hoping this break will go differently because I’m now on medications for my anxiety and depression that seem to be helping, I’ve been steadily seeing a therapist, and my family has a dog now. I’ve also become more aware of the way my anxiety affects me.

So I’ve put together a more realistic to-do list for this winter:q Get lots of puppy snuggles whenever possibleq Hang out with my family a lotq Eat lunch at my favorite local restaurantsq Rest, relax, watch a lot of Netflixq Facetime my friends from schoolq Get outside and walk in the snowq See some old friends that I’ve missed

Being realistic with my mental health goals has helped me quite a bit in my pathtowards accepting and dealing with my mental illness. I like to make lists so that myanxiety doesn’t wander and lose track of what needs to be done. This year, winterbreak can’t get me down and I will 100% check off every item on my to-do list. Maybeeven twice.


Being mindful throughout the holidays


by Julissa Stewart

To a lot of people, the holidays mean lots of food, family gatherings, buying gifts, receiving presents, spending time with loved ones, and being joyful. It’s that magical time of year when everyone expects you to forget your worries and stresses about the real world and get sucked up into a vortex of joy and Christmas spirit.

“How could you not be happy during the holidays, right?”It’s the most wonderful time of the year – or at least, that’s what is expected. But that is not necessarily the case for everyone. For those of us who live with mental illness, it's not always that simple.

Trying to portray the persona of joy and happiness 24/7 is nearly impossible any time of the year, let alone during the holidays. It can be extremely hard feeling like you are letting people down because you don’t feel the way they expect you to. But trust me when I say that it’s okay not to be okay.

This is not just for people who live with mental illness. This is for anyone who is struggling during the holidays.

This is for parents who are grieving the loss of their beloved child. For those who want nothing more than to share the holidays with the ones they love. You are under no obligation to fake your holiday spirit. Do what you need to do to survive this time of year. I believe in you.This is for the those who are struggling financially, and cannot afford to buy presents. I promise that your family and friends will still love you. It’s not about your presents, it’s about your presence.This is for those who are struggling with an eating disorder and feel like they cannot attend a family gathering because of the strong focus of food this time of year. I am proud of you – please keep fighting.This is for those of you who live with crippling depression that are constantly told to be happy – I understand how debilitating this is during the holidays, let alone any other time of the year.This is for those who struggle with any kind of anxiety disorder. I know how hard it can be to step into a shopping mall this time of year, or spend all of your energy on trying to make everyone else happy. But please know that it is not your fault if you need to take a step back and spend some time alone. I feel this one far too often. This is even for those who do not necessarily struggle. I know it can be crushing when you are putting your all into trying to make everyone else happy this time of year only to feel ignored, unnoticed, or unappreciated. I promise that the people in your life still love you. You are doing your best to spread love and joy and we appreciate your efforts in doing so. But I also encourage you to be mindful of what other people may be feeling. If someone at the family gathering is not socializing and is off spending time on their own, give them their space for the time being. Some people may be having an extremely hard time and may need that time to re-generate.I need to do this during the holidays often, and I can tell how it upsets my loved ones that I barely see throughout the year. I promise that this isn’t because I don’t want to spend time with you. That is the thing I want most – I just get overstimulated with the holidays and need some time to myself to rejuvenate before socializing. It can be difficult trying to explain this to those who do not experience these feelings, but I know that I am not alone in this, and it’s okay.



10 ways to practice

gratitude throughout

the holidaysby Mary Gao


1. Send a thank-you note to someone who helped you this year. 2016 is coming to a close and it’s been a tough year in many ways. But so far you’ve survived every single day and perhaps there’s been some special people who have helped you. Show them your gratitude with a simple note.

2. Donate some used clothing to a clothing bank.As the weather gets colder, every morning becomes a reminder of how lucky we are to have warm clothes to bundle in. Donate some clothing and give a cozy winter to someone in need.

3. Write a list of things you’re thankful for throughout the day.Bring a journal with you and write down everything you’re thankful for throughout the day. You’ll be amazed how all the little things add up to just so much goodness.

4. Bake a treat for your best friend.Baking in it of itself is pretty therapeutic and I’m sure your friend will be so happy. Show up at the door of that person who has been with you through so much, and say thank you for everything


5. Buy coffee for the person behind you.Pay forward gratitude by buying the drink of the person behind you in line. Everyone is going through something, and you’ll be surprised how one small action can set off a chain reaction of kindness.

6. Take a day in silence and just journal.There is so much noise in the world. Simplify all the buzz and find out what really matters in life by staying silent for a day and journaling or drawing your thoughts.

7. Hold the door for a stranger.Gratitude doesn’t have to be a grand gesture, really it’s a collection of all the little things. Holding the door is a sign of respect, decency, and simply a reminder we are willing to take a pause for someone else.

8. Bring a meal to someone in need.If you’re a college student, maybe you’ve got an extra meal swipe that could mean a whole lot to someone else. Or you could even volunteer at a local soup kitchen.

9. Call a family member you haven’t spoken to in a while.We all know family is the most important thing in the world, but sometimes things get busy and we forget to appreciate them. I promise you will make their day with a simple call.

10. Give your room a well deserved cleaning and sleep early.Finally, practice gratitude towards yourself. Clean your desk, make your bed, and tuck yourself in knowing there is peace in the space around you and inner peace as well.

To My Significant Other On the Days That I Struggle


by Alyssa Friedman

I know this is really hard to understand.

I know it makes you upset to see me like this. I know you are unsure of what to say and what to do. But the truth is, nothing you say will magically heal the pain inside me or take away the sadness. You don’t need to put it on yourself to fix me because there is nothing to fix. You have accepted me for the person that I am, and that includes me on good days, as well as the bad. There will always be days that need to be more low-key for me, and on those days I will need your presence more than anything. I will need your shoulder to cry on, your arms wrapped around me to feel safe, and your witty sense of humor to sneak a smile on my face every once in awhile. You being with me is more than enough, and I will need time to get to state where I feel more like myself.Remember that time I had to back out on our plans because of how anxious I was about it? I think about it all the time. As much as I wanted to I could not get myself out of an endless cycle of overthinking the situation. I know it didn’t make sense to you, but you tried to understand. You didn’t get mad, or ask me why, or try to push me out of my comfort zone, or make me feel guilty. Letting you down was what I feared most, but you assured me to do what I needed to do, and that was exactly what I needed.Remember that time I had a panic attack for no reason? I broke down to you and you had no idea why. You asked me what was wrong and I didn’t know, and when I said that I wasn’t hiding anything from you- I really wasn't. Sometimes I feel panicked for no good reason and I wish I could provide you with an explanation. It is hard to explain what I am going through when most of the time I barely understand it. There isn’t a manual out there that explains why and when anxiety will hit, and sometimes you just have to roll with it.It took a lot for me to open up to you about what I struggle with, and I know it took you a while to figure it out for yourself. When you assure me that I am not a burden when I’m struggling know that I don’t completely believe you, because no matter what I always feel like I’m too much to handle when I’m anxious.

If I were to ask just one thing of you, it is that you don't give up on me.

Keep promising me that I’m okay, and reassuring me, and being there for me. While it might not always seem like I’m believing you, at the end of the day I remember those words, and they play back in my mind over and over again.


Credits & more

Editor-in-ChiefKayley Reed

Assistant EditorAlexandra Van Rijn

Creative DirectorKayley Reed

PhotographyKelsey Schroeder

ModelsKayley ReedElly Roberts Lance BlakneyAlexandra Van RijnNdeera MedinaAaliyah Paris

ContributorsLiliana ComitoJulissa StewartMary GaoAlyssa Friedman


holiday self-care guide

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