Be kind to yourself during the holidays

What resources does Florida Blue offer to help me manage holiday stress?

We have several resources available to help members.

• One valuable tool available at no extra cost to our fully insured Florida Blue members is our digital mental well-being program, meQuilibrium¹. This self-guided personalized program improves resiliency skills and helps with mental well-being — something we can all use right now. Check out the articles, podcasts, and webinars specific to reducing holiday stress.
• Our behavioral health partner, Lucet², also offers resources and tools to help you manage all year long on its Member Resources Library.
• And, if you need more personalized support, Lucet navigators can help you connect with a range of mental health care professionals from acute to long-term treatment and recovery. Our in-network services are available in-person or in some cases, also as virtual visits. Call Lucet at 1-866-287-9569 to get connected to care.

Be kind to yourself during the holidays. Get started by reviewing these tips from Lucet to setting boundaries when the holidays are starting to feel like too much:

• Acknowledge your feelings — If you’ve experienced loss this year or are grieving holiday traditions that can’t happen, it’s okay to feel sad. You’re human and this period won’t last forever.
• Plan ahead — Make a schedule for shopping, cooking, and other activities. If you stick to a schedule and a budget, you’re less likely to feel overwhelmed by last-minute tasks.
• Embrace new traditions — As families change and grow, so do the holidays. Be open to parting with traditions that cause you stress or that you no longer connect with, and to creating new memories and celebrating in different ways.
• Say no — You don’t have to participate in every activity or gathering you’re invited to, especially if it impacts your mental health. It’s okay to prioritize your well-being over pleasing others, even those closest to you.
• Ask for help — If you’re feeling constant sadness, having trouble sleeping, or experiencing anxiety despite your best efforts, talk to your doctor about seeing a mental health professional. Or at the very least, don’t be afraid to ask loved ones to pitch in where you feel you need it: shopping, cooking, decorating, etc.
• Learn to let go of familial guilt — Not everyone has the same close relationships with their families. In fact, sometimes those relationships can be the cause of deep stress. If you feel you need to limit time spent with certain family members or forgo certain gatherings, give yourself permission to do so reasonably without feeling guilty.

¹meQuilibrium is an independent company contracted by Florida Blue to provide health and wellness services and resources to members. This benefit is available to Florida Blue members age 18 and older. Eligibility is limited to members with an individual or family plan, an individual or family ACA plan and members with coverage from their fully insured group employer health plan.

²Florida Blue contracts with Lucet to provide behavioral health services.