The holiday season is here—sparkling lights, endless to-do lists, and a virtual avalanche of ads, photos, and posts telling you what you absolutely need to make your festivities merry and bright. Spoiler Alert: you don’t need most of it. Between juggling social media, holiday shopping, and Aunt Susan’s annual 50-photo email newsletter, it’s no wonder our mental health gets sidelined.

But fear not! With a few thoughtful tweaks to your digital habits, you can emerge from the holidays with your sanity (mostly) intact. No promises of sanity being fully intact. Plus, we’re all a little more fun when we’re just a bit unhinged! Now, here’s a sweet (and maybe a little spicy) guide to preserving your mental health by managing your online life. When you decide to get back to your website and digital marketing in the new year, your Edmonton Website Design and Development and Digital Marketing specialists at Digital Tea will be ready and happy to help. 

 

1. Social Media: Your Double-Edged Candy Cane

Social media is the holiday wonderland of highlights—but it can also be an emotional minefield. One moment, you’re cooing over a friend’s adorable pet in a Santa hat, and the next, you’re wondering (and subconsciously or consciously lamenting) why your life doesn’t look like an influencer’s curated winter getaway in Banff.

Here’s the truth:

 

• No one’s life is perfect. People post the very best of what happens to them with their very best photos and videos, and sometimes even THOSE are edited. Even the dog in that Santa hat probably tried to eat the costume mere seconds after the photo was taken.
• Social media algorithms are designed to keep you scrolling, not smiling.

Pro tips:

 

• Limit your scrolling time. Set a timer, and when it goes off, walk away. Preferably to something cozy like hot cocoa and a book or other non-digital way to pass your time.
• Mute or unfollow accounts that make you feel like a Scrooge. It’s your feed to do with what you will. You don’t HAVE to follow anything that doesn’t bring you joy. 
• Post less. Enjoy more. Your holiday doesn’t need validation from likes.

Keep in Mind:

 

• The Holidays aren’t the most wonderful time of year for some of us. For some people, the Holidays are a reminder of what and who is missing from their lives. While some folks might be posting humble brags about their last batch of shortbread, other people might be preparing for their last Christmas with a loved one, or their first Christmas without them. 
• Gather your friends and loved ones close – IN PERSON if possible.
• Be kind. Be curious. Be compassionate. Never assume you know what someone else is going through. 
• As much as possible, spread love and kindness. Likes and Shares can wait. 

 

2. Beware the “Buy Now” Button

Ah, online shopping—the double espresso of digital convenience. It’s all fun and games until your January credit card bill reads like an exposé of questionable late-night decisions.

How to survive the retail rabbit hole:

 

• Make a list, check it twice: Santa had the right idea. Know what you need, and stick to it.
• Unsubscribe from promotional emails: Do you really need to know about every flash sale? No. Let them go.
• Consider experiences over things: Studies show experiences make us happier than stuff. So, think about gifting a cooking class or movie night instead of a random gadget.

 

3. Your Email Inbox: The Storm

The inbox is like a virtual snowstorm—overwhelming, relentless, and likely to bury you if left unchecked. And if you happen to take a day or two away from the office during the holidays, it only gets worse.

Tips to tame the chaos:

 

• Declutter: Unsubscribe from anything that doesn’t bring you joy (or genuinely useful information).
• Schedule check-ins: Set specific times to check email, and don’t let it interrupt your eggnog time. Set a timer if that helps, and when it goes off – walk away. 
• Say no to guilt: It’s okay to ignore that chain holiday e-card from your cousin. They’ll survive.
• If it’s your work email, set Out of Office auto responses: when you plan to be away (or just want to take some time away from the computer), set up OOO auto responses. You’ll worry less because you know anyone trying to get a hold of you is informed about why you might not be responding, and it releases some of the mental stress of needing to check your emails constantly. 

4. Screen Time: Friend or Foe?

Between holiday movies, shopping apps, and Zoom family calls, screen time adds up. Suddenly, you’re spending more time with your devices than your loved ones—or yourself.

Reclaim your time:

 

• Set boundaries: No phones at the dinner table. Seriously, the festive delicacies deserve your undivided attention.
• Schedule offline moments: Go for a walk, bake cookies, or stare at real snowflakes falling instead of a GIF.
• Embrace the silence: It’s okay to sit quietly. It might feel uncomfortable at first, but it might end up being a welcome reprieve from the bustle of the season. You’re not obligated to post your every thought or read every email immediately.

 

5. Know When to Log Off

The holidays are about connection, but too much digital noise can drown out the joy. If scrolling, responding, shopping, or clicking starts feeling like a chore, it’s time to hit pause.

Signs you need a digital detox:

 

• You’re doom-scrolling through people’s unnecessarily frequent holiday posts and general bad news stories when you should be decorating the tree.
• You’ve refreshed your inbox 10 times in the last hour.
• You’re comparing your holiday to everyone else’s. 

Pro tip: Comparison is the thief of joy. If you’re comparing yourself to others, you’ll either be left feeling inferior or superior, and neither is doing you or your mental health any favours.

What to do instead:

• Spend time with people who lift you up. Your favourite people are the best cure for holiday stress and the blues. 
• Consider volunteering with a local non-profit for a shift or two. Putting ourselves aside to be there for others in our community spreads holiday cheer to you AND those you’re helping. 
• Get outside and breathe in the crisp winter air. It might seem nicer to stay on the couch, but according to a post from University of Utah Health, getting outside in the winter not only helps you keep those holiday helpings of goodies worked off, but also triggers essential functions that your body needs to create vitamin D – a key vitamin in bone health and development, immunity, and stabilizing your mood – especially when we get less vitamin D from the sun in the darker months. 
• Journal your thoughts—pen and paper, not an app.
• Grab a book and get comfy. There’s not many things more cozy than a nice cup of something warm, a toasty blanket, and a great story. 

6. The Heartfelt Part

The holidays aren’t about having the perfect feed, or having snapshots of every meal, or buying as many items as your personal credit can manage. They’re about connection, kindness, and taking care of others and yourself. And essential to that is recharging your mental health battery.

Remember that it’s okay to unplug – arguably it’s a necessity. 

It’s okay to say no. 

It’s okay to choose you over digital demands. 

The world won’t collapse if you don’t answer an email, like a post, or check your notifications. But your peace of mind? That’s priceless.

So this holiday season, give yourself and those that matter most the gift of your presence—not just presents. You won’t regret it.

If you or someone you know is struggling this holiday season, please reach out for help by getting in touch with a loved one or friend, or contact one of the many government or non-profit organizations offering resources and referrals. Find resources and information at Mental Health Foundation, Canadian Mental Health Association, or call 211 if you or someone you know is in immediate mental health distress.