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| Everyone should remember to take care of their mental health during Tet to start the new year with complete joy. (Illustration: Hai Yen) |
How to enjoy a truly warm, happy, and mentally relaxed Lunar New Year to start the new year smoothly and full of energy is a common wish of many people.
Identifying the causes of the "fear of Tet" syndrome.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Giang (43 years old, residing in Tan Trieu ward) shared: “I love the atmosphere of Tet but I also ‘fear’ it because I have to worry about expenses, shopping, and cleaning the house while my work at the office is very busy in the last days of the year. During Tet, I have to be busy cooking, entertaining guests…”
Meanwhile, Mr. Tran Minh Tuan (29 years old, from Thanh Hoa province, residing in Trang Dai ward) admitted: "Every time I go back to my hometown for Tet, I feel quite pressured when asked about my income. Even without being asked directly, the stories parents tell at the beginning of the year, boasting about their children's success and high incomes, make me feel pressured. I know it's just a habit of parents in the countryside, but hearing it so often feels burdensome and uncomfortable."
According to psychologist and Master's degree holder Ha Van Phuc, Director of V.LIFE Education Training and Development Company Limited (Trang Dai Ward), Tet (Lunar New Year) is a time that leaves many people busy, worried, and mentally exhausted, even experiencing a "Tet phobia" stemming from financial pressure, a heavy workload, and societal expectations. The causes arise from many aspects, including: spending pressure (shopping expenses, lucky money, gifts, feasts, etc.); debt issues; house cleaning; or facing personal questions from relatives and acquaintances during family gatherings, such as income, marriage, and childbirth. Furthermore, Tet is also a time when many people face health risks due to excessive partying and disruptions to their daily routines.
According to Master Ha Van Phuc, "During the counseling process, I encountered many cases where people came to me to discuss, share, and even needed psychological support due to stress or low spirits during Tet. The majority of these cases involved women – those considered the 'keepers of the purse' in the family."
Overloading oneself mentally during Tet (Lunar New Year) often manifests as feelings of exhaustion, fatigue, and lack of energy; prolonged anxiety and stress due to the pressure of cleaning, shopping, or conflicts in social and family relationships. All of these can easily lead to stress, overwhelm, irritability, sensitivity to negative comments, avoidance of crowds, and even self-isolation to seek peace and privacy.
Master's degree holder Ha Van Phuc added: Women and young people are most susceptible to psychological crises during Tet (Lunar New Year). For women, cleaning, cooking, shopping, and performing ancestral rites leave them with no time to rest, leading to physical and mental exhaustion. For daughters-in-law, the pressure to fulfill all responsibilities easily leads to conflicts and tensions in relationships with their husbands and in-laws.
Young people often face pressure regarding finances, career, and family expectations related to salary and marriage. These things can easily turn Tet into a source of fear and may cause family conflicts, diminishing the true meaning of family reunion for young people.
“My family’s experience in celebrating Tet (Lunar New Year) in a relaxed and stress-free way is to shop less and have fewer parties. We still maintain the tradition of visiting relatives and friends to wish them a happy new year, but we are willing to say no to alcohol. Eating during Tet is also simpler; we no longer stock up on food to fill the refrigerator, because we can go to the market to buy food as usual from the second day of the new year. When everything is simplified, I find I have more time for myself.”
Ms. HOANG THI THUY (residing in Tam Hiep ward)
Lower expectations, increase connection for a truly fulfilling Lunar New Year celebration.
To truly experience the joy of family reunion during Tet, according to Master Ha Van Phuc, the most fundamental principle is to reduce expectations and increase connection. Simultaneously, focus on physical health through moderate eating, sufficient sleep, and stress relief by letting go of work pressure, cleaning, and expectations of perfection, avoiding turning Tet into an opportunity to show off…
Instead, everyone should focus on peace of mind, dedicating time to personal hobbies and family; sharing cleaning and cooking with family, turning tasks into joys instead of burdens. "By following these principles, I believe Tet will truly be a time for rest and rejuvenation instead of adding more stress," shared Master Ha Van Phuc.
Prioritize essential activities, minimize shopping, decorating, and arranging things… and combine relaxation with family activities such as cooking, watching movies, and chatting. Maintaining and dedicating time to yourself is also very important, so focus on self-care by maintaining healthy habits such as getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, and doing light exercise… to regenerate energy; at the same time, rearrange your living and working spaces to reduce stress after Tet. Everyone also needs to learn to say “no” and decline unnecessary invitations and activities to reduce stress and pressure.
Tet will truly be a season of love and reunion when each person knows how to care for and listen to their own mental health and that of those around them. Reducing stress, increasing sharing, and cherishing simple moments will help Tet return to its original meaning – a time to rest, recharge, and start a new year with peace and stability.
Rose
Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/dong-nai-cuoi-tuan/202602/cham-care-health-mental-day-tet-e1917d4/
