The divisive presidential election, COVID-19 pandemic and economic uncertainty have hit people hard this year. As 2020 comes to a close, the holiday season is upon us. This is usually a time of year for people to gather with their friends or family, enjoy a holiday feast, exchange gifts, watch football or play games, travel and do other things together. The worsening pandemic means those things won't take place this year in the same way they did in past years. All of this combines to create stress and mental health problems, even in people who have never suffered from a mental health problem before. On December 15, Medical News Today announced results from a survey stating that the mental health of Americans has declined by a considerable amount this year. Read on to learn why it's okay if you don't feel festive right now and discover five tips you can use to prioritize your mental health.

You Don't Always Have to Be Happy or Grateful

Humans have a range of emotions. You can't feel the joys in life without having experienced some sadness at some time. Try to avoid the triggers that bring you to the edge of your ability to manage stress. For many people, it's social media. Cutting down on your social media and news exposure will provide immense relief from the frustration, disappointment or even rage you may feel. When someone posts on their Facebook page asking what you're grateful or thankful for, and you can't honestly think of anything, consider putting them on snooze. Better yet, put yourself on a social media freeze for a while. Try to reduce or eliminate the other frustrations that typically stress you out during the holiday season. If you agonize over buying the perfect gift, don't worry about it this year. Make a donation to a charity in your loved one's name, and send them a heartfelt card with a note about it.

Accept Things for What They Are

For most people, a lot of things didn't go their way this year. Maybe you lost your job or you had to deal with remote learning for your child. Perhaps your spouse's job is uncertain or your parents got evicted from their home. Maybe your loved one died of COVID-19. Perhaps you got caught up in politics and lost friendships. It's possible that you can check off many of these boxes and add a list of your own. It's okay to feel sad, angry, frustrated or disappointed that things didn't go your way. Accept it for what it is.

Find the Silver Lining

Focus on what you can do in the short-, medium- and long-term to get back on a pleasing path. You don't have to be happy about working from home or suddenly becoming your child's tech support during school hours. Try to find the positive in the situation. You don't have to drop your child off and pick them up every day, so there's no frustrating crowd of cars twice a day. Maybe you don't have to smell the stinky lunch of the coworker who always packs an egg salad sandwich every day.

Stop Comparing Yourself

Your neighbors have an incredible lights display, your best friend got a new car from their partner for Christmas and your coworker can't stop showing off her new diamond ring. You've barely managed to check your mailbox, your car's in the shop and you'll be lucky to get a lump of coal in your stocking. Comparison is the thief of joy, as the old saying goes. You don't know what the other person is going through. Maybe the lights display is the only thing holding your neighbor together after they lost their parents to COVID-19 or face uncertainty in their job.

Focus on What You Can Reasonably Do

You don't have to pull off a Martha Stewart-level holiday this year. Focus on what you can do, and let the rest go. Self-care should be first. Prioritize your sleep. Go to bed at the same time every night, and wake up at the same time each morning. Make sure your bedroom is set up with good sleep hygiene practices. Eat a balanced, nutritious diet. Get daily exercise, even if it's a walk through your neighborhood. Engage in a hobby, and stay socially connected, even if it's sending a text to a friend once a day.