What have you been looking forward to this hoilday season?

The most wonderful time of the year is here, and people usually look for any excuse to make the most of this season. We spoke to a few Potchefstroomers who shared things they look forward to this holiday. The most wonderful time of the year is here, and people usually look for any excuse to make the most of this season. season and how to stay positive ahead of the new year.

Connect with people

Christmas is about coming together with family and friends and spending quality time with loved ones. “Connecting with others is a great way to boost your mood and get into the holiday spirit. “If you have an opportunity to meet up with friends or family safely over this period, you might find that it helps to improve your mental well-being,” Omolemo Molefe said.

Practise self-care

We usually think of the Christ-mas holidays as a time to focus on other people and spread good cheer among friends and family. We tend to forget that it’s just as important to look after ourselves. “Reserve some of your festive goodwill just for you! If you manage to take time off work during this busy season, try and use it to recharge and replenish your mental and physical health. It’s been one long year,” Tlotlo Sephiphi laughed.

Why not spend time unwinding in the kitchen with new recipes or festive baking? A good way to prac-tise self-care can also involve doing things that relax you, like listen-ing to podcasts, reading books, or taking a long bath. Meditating or practising mindfulness is also high on the list. To help boost your mood, consider regularly writing down the things you are grateful for — they could be small things, like how much you en-joyed your morning coffee or speaking to a friend on the phone.

Welcome in the new year

The year 2022, as a whole, has been tough for most, and it makes sense that you might not be feeling particularly positive about the new year to come. Instead of dwelling on the past and what has happened, take this time to focus on moving forward, so you feel hopeful about the future.

One way to welcome in a new year is by cleaning and decluttering your space. This will help you feel ready for a new year and prepare you mentally for a fresh start. Clearing up your whole flat or house might feel daunting, but you can always start small.

Choose a cupboard, wardrobe, or specific room to go through and work your way through from there. “It also helps to jot down things you’re looking forward to, whether it be a new season of your favourite show or scheduled video calls with your family. Making ambitious New Year’s resolutions can be tempting but consider giving yourself achiev-able goals next year rather than resolutions, like picking up a new hobby,” Tshepang Molatlegi added.