By Dr. Lise Deguire | Contributor
As we officially begin the holiday season, a sense of anxiety fills the air, accompanied by numerous concerns. The obvious worries about health—our own and that of our loved ones—loom large. Will we be able to drive to visit our elderly parents? Can our adult children fly home for Christmas? Additionally, many families grapple with difficult financial situations. How many presents can we realistically place under the tree this year? Will we even be able to afford a tree?
I share the same overwhelming pressures as many do. For over 35 years, I have welcomed New Year’s with three close friends, a tradition that has grown to include our partners and children. For decades, our joyful group of twelve has celebrated together. But this year is different. I cannot express how heartbroken this makes me.
Nonetheless, 2020 is what it is, and I am striving to make the most of it. This holiday season, I have established a new daily routine for myself with specific guidelines. Each day, I aim to engage in five activities that contribute to my calmness, happiness, and overall peace of mind. To help remember them easily, I use the mnemonic M.E.C.C.A., which signifies “center.”
What is M.E.C.C.A.?
1) Meditate: Begin your day with a short meditation. I use a service called “Headspace,” which offers a guided ten-minute meditation each day (learn more about it here: https://www.headspace.com/). Honestly, every morning I wake up thinking, “Let’s skip the meditation today.” I rarely feel like doing it. However, after I meditate, I find myself feeling clearer, more relaxed, and refreshed. It truly sets a positive tone for the day ahead.
2) Exercise: I make it a point to exercise daily. Given the circumstances of COVID, I avoid the gym, but I can still walk my dog, use our elliptical trainer, or lift weights at home. Each time I exercise, I think to myself, “I feel so much better now.” Keep in mind that the holiday season often brings extra indulgence in food and drink, making exercise a great way to combat those extra holiday pounds.
3) Create: Do you enjoy writing, painting, or quilting? Perhaps you had creative hobbies in your school years that you have since sidelined. Creativity serves as one of our finest coping mechanisms. By channeling our emotions into creative tasks, we can transform them into something meaningful or beautiful. Plus, use your talents to craft gifts this year. I have a cousin who sends stunning handmade cards each Christmas. While I admire her extraordinary skill, I eagerly anticipate her annual creations.
4) Connect: During the holiday season, many people experience feelings of loneliness. The loss of loved ones can weigh heavily on us, especially during this sentimental time of year. This year, with many needing to remain at home, even more people will miss their family and friends. It’s important to reach out to those you care about. Don’t settle for just texting—pick up the phone and have a conversation. I’ll admit, our discussions may not be particularly thrilling; after all, no one is doing much beyond discussing COVID-19. Yet, it remains important to reach out to friends, family members, and grandparents.
5) Accomplish: Each day, tackle something you have been procrastinating. We all have projects we never seem to have time to attend to. My home used to be filled with these unfinished tasks, but no longer! Especially during the holidays, there’s an abundance of things to complete. Perhaps this will be the year I finally sort through the Christmas paper bin, overflowing with scraps of wrapping paper, dusty ribbons, and boxes that have seen better days. Each year, I promise myself that I’ll declutter it. This year, I have a feeling it will finally happen.
No one can predict how much longer we will continue in this strange COVID limbo, but I hope you find ways to make the best of this unusual holiday season while caring for yourself and establishing a healthy grounding routine. This New Year’s, you will find me meditating and exercising (albeit reluctantly), blogging, and calling friends. Additionally, I’ll be found in my garage, clearing out the old wrapping paper.
Eventually, we will return to some semblance of normalcy. Until then, take pleasure in the festive lights adorning your neighbor’s homes. Take care and keep your spirits high. Humanity has persevered through many challenging times, and we will overcome this as well. Happy Holidays!
Editors Note: Dr. Lise Deguire is a clinical psychologist in private practice and the author of Flashback Girl: Lessons on Resilience From a Burn Survivor. For more information, visit www.lisedeguire.com.
ABOUT DR. LISE DEGUIRE:
Dr. Lise Deguire is a clinical psychologist in private practice. After suffering severe burns in a fire, she spent much of her childhood in the hospital undergoing numerous surgical procedures. Dr. Deguire graduated summa cum laude from Tufts University in 1985 and obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology from Hahnemann/Widener University in 1990. For the past fourteen years, she has practiced solo in Pennington, New Jersey. She authored her memoir, Flashback Girl: Lessons on Resilience from a Burn Survivor. Dr. Deguire has appeared on various television shows, podcasts, and radio programs, and has contributed to numerous publications, including Psychology Today, the Trenton Times, Grown & Flown.com, and Medium.com. She maintains a blog focused on psychological resilience and is a national keynote speaker, boasting over 10,000 followers across various social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
