The holidays can bring a mix of emotions. For some, they’re full of joy and connection. For others, they bring stress, grief, or loneliness. It’s easy to feel pressure to make everything perfect, keep everyone happy, or live up to expectations that feel impossible.

Before the season begins, take time to prepare your mental health, just like you’d plan meals, travel, or gifts. A little awareness and structure in November can help you enter the holidays calmer, grounded, and more present.

Gratitude has become a popular buzzword in recent years, and for good reason. It can shift your perspective, calm your mind, and strengthen your mental health. But sometimes, the pressure to “just be grateful” can feel like it’s dismissing real pain.

True gratitude isn’t about pretending everything is okay. It’s about learning to hold both joy and difficulty at the same time.

When life feels heavy, being told to “just be grateful” can sound frustrating or even impossible. Gratitude isn’t about ignoring pain or pretending everything is fine. It’s about gently noticing moments of goodness, even when things are hard. And science shows that doing so can actually help your brain heal and rebalance.