Surviving the Holiday Season as a Social Campaigner
In the heart of the festive season, activists may find themselves feeling a stark contrast between their lives and the idealized images of happy families and traditional celebrations that permeate society. This dissonance can be particularly challenging for activists, especially those from non-traditional families or with non-Christian faiths.
Holly Hammond, in her article, offers some strategies to help manage these feelings during the holiday season.
Strategies for Coping
1. Create Alternative Traditions
Building your own community and developing holiday rituals that resonate with your personal beliefs and cultural heritage can help create a sense of belonging. Connect with like-minded individuals through online forums, local activist groups, or community centers.
2. Seek Support
If feelings of disconnection are overwhelming, consider speaking with a therapist who understands your background and can offer tailored support. Reach out to friends and family members who can provide emotional support and understanding.
3. Engage in Activism
Participating in volunteer work or continuing your activist work can provide a sense of purpose and connection to your community. Advocacy can help maintain a sense of identity and mission during a time when societal expectations might feel alienating.
4. Mindfulness and Self-Care
Engage in mindfulness activities like meditation or yoga to help manage stress and anxiety. Prioritize self-care by setting aside time for activities that bring you joy and relaxation.
5. Join or Create Holiday Events
Attend or organize holiday events that are inclusive and respectful of diverse backgrounds and faiths. Host or participate in potlucks where people can share food and traditions from their cultures.
6. Focus on Rest and Reflection
Prioritize rest as a form of resistance against the hustle culture that often exacerbates feelings of burnout. Use the holiday season as an opportunity for introspection and setting new goals for the coming year.
7. Connect with Nature
Engage in outdoor activities to connect with nature and reduce feelings of isolation.
By implementing these strategies, activists from diverse backgrounds can find ways to not only cope with disconnection but also cultivate meaningful connections and traditions during the holidays.
It's important to remember that self and community care should be practiced during this season, setting up boundaries and engaging in activities that help unwind. Affirmation from others can help build resilience against cluelessness or bad attitudes.
Activists may attempt to insulate themselves from people living non-activist lives, but this is not the answer. Instead, they can demystify their lives by being honest about their work and motivations.
During this season, it's crucial to share resources related to activism, self-care, and election recovery on social media and email. Access services like Lifeline Australia (or equivalent mental health and suicide prevention services) if struggling during the holiday season.
Activists may experience a sense of disconnection or alienation due to differences in politics, gender nonconformity, and commercialism with family members. Celebrating activists through gifts that educate and enlighten can be a meaningful way to support their work.
People in activists' lives may hold misconceptions about their work and motivations due to historical exclusion of contributions by similar groups. Choosing battles carefully, considering factors like safety and passing privilege, is important for activists.
There is significant misinformation about activists, unhelpful stereotypes, an under-valuing of their choices, and a concerted marginalization of their perspectives. Check out resources for overcoming challenges to self-care, election recovery, and tips for new activists.
Connecting across differences is important for creating social change and having happy lives. Self-affirmation is important for activists to review their achievements, growth, and sources of pride.
This time of year can be difficult for people without a happy family or those who feel excluded due to their non-Christian faith or queer/trans status. It's essential to remember that the holiday season is about finding ways to connect, support, and care for one another, regardless of our differences.
- To overcome feelings of disconnection during the holiday season, activists can build their own communities and develop holiday rituals that resonate with their personal beliefs and cultural heritage.
- Engaging in activism by participating in volunteer work or continuing one's activist work can provide a sense of purpose and connection to the community.
- Practicing mindfulness activities, such as meditation or yoga, can help manage stress and anxiety during the holiday season.
- Celebrating activists through gifts that educate and enlighten can be a meaningful way to support their work, especially those from non-traditional families or with non-Christian faiths.
- Connecting across differences, including politics, gender nonconformity, and commercialism with family members, is important for creating social change and having happy lives.
- Accessing resources related to activism, self-care, and election recovery, and using services like Lifeline Australia (or equivalent mental health and suicide prevention services), can offer tailored support during the holiday season.
- Self-affirmation is essential for activists to review their achievements, growth, and sources of pride, especially during a time when societal expectations might feel alienating.
