Expert tips for tackling Omicron anxiety over the Christmas period

Then, just as we were on the home stretch, Covid cases began to climb, Omicron became a thing, and we were chucked right back into a state of lockdown limbo.

Christmas is already a tough time for many of us, mental health wise.

Chuck in the threat of Omicron and a pile of uncertainty around restrictions, and it’s no wonder many of us are feeling especially anxious right now.

To help us through it, we spoke to the experts over at YoungMinds for their advice.

They specialise in helping young people with their mental wellbeing, but to be clear: these tips are great for people of any age.

Stevie Goulding, parents helpline manager at YoungMinds, said: ‘Young people have faced a huge range of pressures this year, including anxiety about the pandemic, loneliness and social isolation.

‘Many will be feeling worried about the Omicron variant and uncertainty around possible further restrictions and school closures.

‘Christmas will be a difficult time for many.

‘If you’re struggling to cope over the festive period, it’s important to reach out for help – whether that’s to friends, family, a doctor, a counsellor, a teacher or a helpline. It’s also a good idea to take the pressure off as much as possible, and do things that you enjoy or which help you relax if you can.’

Here are the YoungMinds’ team’s top tips for tackling Omicron-related anxiety over the festive period.

Take some time out

There’s a lot of pressure over Christmas to socialise like mad and spend every minute soaking up festive fun with your family.

Give yourself permission to take some time for yourself.

‘Take time out: If you feel yourself getting a bit overwhelmed, or upset, take five to ten minutes away from everyone on Christmas Day to recharge and have some time to yourself,’ YoungMinds advises. ‘Or you could organise something else for the day, like volunteer work or helping at a local event.

‘First and foremost, you need to look after yourself, and you need to do that every day of the year. Have a think about some alternative things you could do this Christmas to make the day more enjoyable for yourself.’

Don’t overexpose yourself to the news

Staying informed is a good thing, of course, but if you’ve got notifications switched on for every case of Omicron, then you’re spending hours a day doomscrolling, this is doing you more harm than good.

Try to limit your exposure by turning off breaking news alerts, if you’re finding them overwhelming, and perhaps only going online at certain points during the day.

Find things that help to distract you

Similarly, we know it’s tempting to stew in your worries and ruminate on all the possible things that can go wrong, but we all know that’s not a particularly healthy way to spend our time.

YoungMinds says: ‘Plan some activities that you enjoy and will help take your mind off things. That could be baking, reading, taking an online exercise class, journaling or video chatting with friends and family.