Health awareness campaigns

Homewood Health - Support Over the Holiday Season

Season of Self-Care: Letting Go of Expectations

What is Self-Care?

Self-care is the intentional practice of nurturing your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. It’s about creating space for rest, reflection, and balance—especially during the busy holiday season.

Why Letting Go of Expectations Matters

Holding on to unrealistic expectations—whether from yourself or others—can lead to stress and disappointment. Letting go creates freedom, peace, and resilience.

“If you let go a little, you will find a little peace. If you let go a lot, you will find a lot of peace.” — Ajahn Chah

What You Can Do

• Pause & Reflect: Ask yourself, “What expectations are weighing me down?”
• Practice Mindfulness: Focus on what you can control and release what you can’t.
• Set Boundaries: Protect your time and energy by saying no when needed.
• Affirmations:
• “I release what I cannot control.”
• “I choose peace over perfection.”
• Digital Detox: Reduce social media scrolling to avoid comparison traps

Happening this month:

UFV Safety & Security Annual Clothing Drive | On now until December 19

• Declutter & give back 

Oh Fitness Tree Challenge | Join the UFV Strive to Thrive community, starting December 8-19!

• Practical tips for holiday wellness

Resources and education materials

Homewood Health - offers free, confidential counselling through your Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP).

Letting Go of Expectations - December 2025 | Life Lines

We all carry expectations about ourselves, others, and how life should unfold. But when those expectations become unrealistic, they can lead to disappointment, stress, and self-criticism. In this short video, you’ll learn how to recognize and release expectations that no longer serve you. Discover how mindfulness, gratitude, and self-compassion can help you find balance, especially during the holiday season, when pressures and expectations can feel heavier than usual. If you’re struggling or feeling stuck, remember that help is available.

• Video: The Gift of Letting Go: How to Reduce Holiday Season Stress
• Self-Care Starter Kit
• Wellness During the Holiday Season

Canadian Mental Health Association: There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to self-care. Our own needs, lifestyle, and preferences are unique, so how we take care of ourselves might be different from our friends’ or family’s practices. 

Your Self-Care Guide

Health and well-being awareness monthly campaigns

Please contact health.disability.wellness@ufv.ca if you have any ideas to share or questions.