December can be a month of mixed emotions. For some, it’s a time of joy, celebration, and connection. For others, it brings stress, pressure, financial strain, or a deep sense of loneliness and grief. However you’re feeling this month, your emotions are valid.
This season often tells us to “do more, buy more, be more.” Your mental health message for December is the opposite: do what you can, protect your peace, and give yourself permission to be human.
Here are a few gentle reminders as we close out the year:
You are allowed to slow down. Rest is not laziness; it’s maintenance. Give
yourself moments to pause, breathe deeply, and step away from the noise.
You are allowed to set boundaries. It’s okay to say “no” to extra commitments,
conversations, or situations that drain you. Protecting your energy is an act of
self-respect, not selfishness.
You are allowed to feel more than one thing at once. You can be grateful and
exhausted. Excited and anxious. Hopeful and sad. Our hearts can hold many
emotions at the same time.
You are allowed to ask for help. Reaching out to a trusted friend, family
member, counselor, faith leader, or mental health professional is a sign of
strength, not weakness.
If this season is especially hard for you, because of loss, change, distance, or anything else, please know you are not alone. Talk to someone you trust and let them know how you are really doing. If you ever feel overwhelmed or unsafe, reach out to your local crisis resources or call or text 988 for support.
As we wrap up this year, take a moment to recognize something important: You made it through 100% of your hardest days so far. That is resilience!
Wishing you moments of calm, an abundance of joy, and the courage to care for your mind and heart this December.
Public Schools of Robeson County District Mental Health Team