Finding Balance at Christmas

The festive season is upon us, a time for laughter, socialising, and perhaps one too many mince pies! But for many, it can also bring its own challenges. Changes in routine, over-stimulation, or the absence of loved ones can make Christmas feel overwhelming.

As we head into this busy time, I want to take a moment to acknowledge that whatever your Christmas looks like, it’s okay to take time for yourself. Pause, reflect, or simply put your feet up if you need to while you find balance. In the UK, if you or someone you know is struggling and needs urgent mental health support, the mental health crisis line on 111 is a brilliant resource. Having personally interacted with this service, I can say it is professional, compassionate, and truly a lifeline when things feel heavy.

Over the Christmas and New Year period, I’ll be taking a few days off and working reduced hours because even the most passionate neurodiversity and wellbeing advocates need to step back and care for themselves. Trying to make a difference in the world can be exhausting, and part of promoting wellbeing is modelling self-care.

As a gentle reminder, our First Aid for Mental Health Level 2 course is running remotely on 31st January 2026. This course is a fantastic opportunity to support what we do at Collectively Diverse and to equip you to support your colleagues, friends, and loved ones. Mental health touches all of us, in workplaces, homes, and communities, and being able to recognise when someone needs help, start a compassionate conversation, and guide them to appropriate support can make a real difference. Completing the course will make you a recognised First Aider for Mental Health, demonstrating that you are approachable and confident in offering early guidance and signposting to professional help.

As we close out this year and look forward to the next, I hope we can all approach 2026 with knowledge, compassion, and a readiness to make a positive impact, because the world could always do with a bit more kindness, cohesion and understanding.