The Diwali week is going on. Families are busy making preparations, with every member putting in that extra effort to make the festival a little more special. But this is also the time to shine a light on the extra mental load people experience. The festive season can be difficult for those working alone to make it perfect. Someone who is separated from family, grieving a loss or struggling financially can feel anxious or lonely during this time. Therefore, it is important to understand what mental load is and how to reduce it during this time.
The invisible load of work
In many households, women carry the responsibility of organising the festival. On normal days, she manages the household or balances her work life and home. But during festivals like Diwali, she becomes responsible for everyone’s celebration as well.Her added responsibilities often start more than two months before Diwali. She has to clean, fix things and decide everything regarding what to keep and what to throw.The curtains have to be washed, the pooja room needs a full clean-up, and half the lights in the Diwali box don’t even work anymore.She’s also responsible for Diwali shopping: gifts for relatives, new clothes for the whole family, sweets for neighbours, dry fruits for the office, and decorations for home. Anyone who has done this knows you need to remember who you gave what to last year, who will be upset if you don’t see them this year, and where you need to make a small budget reduction because it’s already tight. None of this is written down. It merely remains in the mind of one individual. And that individual is typically a female.Then there is social media pressure. People often compare their celebration with images of others’ coordinated outfits, elaborate hampers and beautiful homes, which can upset them. Diwali is also the time when you spend extra. This can strain the household budget and put pressure on the person paying. Some people take a personal loan this time, but they feel the burden long after the festival ends as they keep on paying EMIs for the entire year.
How to recover, and how to prevent it
The first step towards lowering the mental load is to share Diwali responsibilities as a family. You can write down the celebration work duties and decide who will do which part. . Second, keep the rituals simple so they don’t stretch your time, energy, or budget..Third, make a budget before making any purchases, including any repayments that will continue after Diwali. Fourth, ensure you have time for regular meals, water, and adequate sleep. Fifth, make time to exercise and meditate. This will keep you physically healthy and also improve your mental health.If you still feel pressured or anxious, speak to a mental health professional. You can seek support at any time; you don’t need to wait a certain number of days or for symptoms to become severe.The Diwali week offers an opportunity to consider how we care for one another. That care includes noticing who is carrying the responsibility and making sure they can enjoy the celebration too. No one should have to burn out to keep the lamps lit.
