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29 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,D ecem ber 24,2020 insidehalton.com At Village Orthodontics in Oakville, we specialize in beautiful smiles using clear aligners and traditional braces. New Patients Welcome Schedule your complimentary consultation today! 647-496-1424 2-2983 Westoak Trails Blvd. Oakville villageortho.ca Book your Personalized Smile Consultation today 1276 Cornwall Road, Unit C, Oakville Ontario, L6J 7W5 T: 905-845-0767 • F: 905-845-5552 •www.haxelllaw.com • lawyers@haxelllaw.com Personal Professional Service at Competitive Rates Buying? Selling? Re Call us for a quote at 905-845-0767 ext. 223Jameson Glas GOLDGOLD 905-845-0767 ext. 223Jameson Glas Hover your camera app over this code to see more deals. P WERFUL SAVINGS! with Your only destination for more coupons, more flyers, more savings. Products displayed are based on a sample of flyers available on Save.ca as of today's date, and are subject to change based on product availability and each user's location. Powered by Shop instore or online at Staples.ca Free Shipping on all orders (no minimum spend) or Contactless Curbside Pickup available. December25-29 2020 has been anything but typical, and we can say the same thing about this year's holiday season. Given the restrictions related to the pandemic, it will likely be very different than in years past. But it should most definitely in- clude taking time to think about and care for our own mental health and wellness -- and that of others. Following are a few ide- as to keep in mind: • Experiment with some new traditions. For exam- ple, why not have a good old summer BBQ for your household's holiday meal? Burgers, hotdogs, potato salad, etc. Cooking a turkey isn't everyone's favourite way to spend a day, and some people may look for- ward to the novelty and get- ting away with something non-traditional that their extended family would nev- er go for in any other year. If there's something you don't particularly enjoy do- ing for the holidays, take a break from it this year. • Be creative with the traditions you do want to keep. No, you can't gather in groups for movie-watch- ing or gift exchanges, but think about what you can do to stay connected and enjoy time together, even if it's virtually. Video calls and distanced visits out- side can be as festive as you choose to make them. • Prioritize self-care. While this season may not have the visiting, get-to- gethers and other kinds of activity that can tire you out, it doesn't mean that you can't give yourself the gift of wellness by taking care of yourself. Make sure you sleep enough, eat healthy, and build some down time into your days even with everything else you may have on your to-do list. Even just 10 or 15 min- utes, a day of "me-time" can have a big impact on your mood. • Pay attention to what's happening with others. People often assume that everyone is cheery and happy during the holiday season, but that's not true in any year, yet alone one that has brought so much uncertainty and stress. Ac- knowledge that people may be feeling low, anxious, iso- lated and coping with stressors that don't go away just because it's the holi- days. Be prepared to listen, accept their feelings, and support them to think about what might help. Let- ting them know that it's OK to not feel OK can go a long way. Keep in mind that the Canadian Mental Health Association Halton Region Branch has a free call-in counselling service if you or someone in your life are looking for the support of a counsellor with no cost, wait-list, or referral. Call 289-291-5396 and you will be contacted by a counsellor within 24 hours from Mon- day to Friday. Melanie McGregor is the communications and ad- vancement specialist at the Canadian Mental Health Association Halton Region Branch, which provides mental health/addiction community support and education. Visit www.hal- ton.cmha.ca for more in- formation and follow @cmhahalton on Twitter. DON'T LET YOUR MENTAL HEALTH TAKE A HOLIDAY OPINION A LITTLE CREATIVITY AND SELF-CARE CAN GO A LONG WAY TO MAKING THIS YEAR'S FESTIVITIES ENJOYABLE, WRITES MELANIE MCGREGOR MELANIE MCGREGOR Column