Overcoming Holiday Blues
Are you feeling excited and thrilled during Christmas season or are you feeling lonely and sad? If you’re feeling sad and lonesome, you might be experiencing holiday blues!
Holiday blues are temporary feelings of anxiety or depression during the holiday season.
While many people consider the holidays or Christmas season as the most wonderful time of the year, for some people, it can be a period of painful reflection, sadness, loneliness, anxiety, and depression. Unrealistic expectations, sentimental memories, or the inability to spend time with friends and family can all contribute to holiday blues.
Even people who love the holidays can experience the blues during this busy season. Holidays are often a time of high emotion and demands, which can leave a lot of people feeling stressed and exhausted.
Here are some tips on how to beat the Holiday Blues
Stick to your daily routines
When you stick to your regular routine, you’ll feel more healthy, grounded, and secure. You won’t also be overwhelmed with things that society wants you to do.
Be realistic
Sometimes, having high hopes for the season can lead to holiday stress and sadness. The truth is that the ideal holiday is impossible to find. Don’t think about how the holidays should be. Set realistic expectations and goals for Christmas tasks including card-writing, cooking, entertaining, and buying. Create a to-do list and keep things straightforward.
Set a budget
Finding a balance between pleasing loved ones and staying within a budget can be challenging. Prior to beginning your holiday gift- and food shopping, determine how much you can comfortably spend. If money is scarce, consider making your own gifts. You can prepare DIY (do it yourself) gifts like Canvas Tote Bags, local tees, notebooks, and planners.
You just have to bear in mind that happiness is intangible and it is always the thoughts that count.
Maintain healthy habits
While it might be challenging to maintain a workout routine when you are depressed, research has shown that regular exercise can be helpful in preventing and treating depressive symptoms.
Let go of bad memories
A sensation of loss may be triggered by memories of previous holidays. We miss those who have passed away. If you are unable to be with loved ones or if a loved one has passed away, it’s acceptable to feel sad. Grief is a typical reaction to loss.
Start a new tradition
It’s possible that your idea of the holiday is different from what is actually taking place. Allow new customs to develop rather than clinging to what the holiday should have been like.
Traditions may change as families grow and develop. Find innovative ways to celebrate with your family or other relatives if you are unable to be present in person. You can contact or meet them using video call or audio call and find new ways to celebrate together.
Seek out company
Your mental health may suffer from social isolation. Anxiety and stress can arise from loneliness. Find people who you can be with during the holiday and celebrate with them. Reach out to them, text, call, or use a video chat to connect with a friend, relative, or neighbor to avoid loneliness and isolation.
Learn to say no
During the holidays, people frequently ask for help and place demands on your time and resources. Invitations to holiday parties can also become burdensome social duties. Small favors for friends can turn into unexpectedly large endeavors. Having too many obligations can make you feel overburdened.
It’s acceptable to turn down an invitation or request a rain check. Make it very clear what you can and cannot do. Pay attention to memorable events. The main purpose of the holidays is to spend time with close friends and family. Knowing your limits and learning to say “no” will help you avoid over-committing.
Volunteer your time
You can lessen the impacts of stress and improve your general psychological health by doing deeds of kindness for others. Donate to a charity in memory of a loved one or feed homeless people in the street.
Set aside time to relax
Spend some time ensuring your well-being! Take care of yourself by getting adequate sleep, keeping an eye on your diet, and keeping active. Take a warm bath, play with your pet, or catch up on your favorite TV show to relax and relieve stress.
You can schedule some alone time. Spend some time by yourself reading, listening to music, or going for a walk. Or you can just spend time doing nothing. Or try doing things you always wanna do. It is up to you!
