Have you been seeing heightened amounts of drama or stress in yourself or the people around you? The other day I noticed that both my husband and I have this unexplainable and unjustifiable cloud that parked over our heads right before Thanksgiving. Our family is healthy, and everything is going well. What is our problem?
I realized we were separately experiencing a bit of the holiday blues. Santa Claus, good food, time off, presents, parties, how could anyone feel blue? It seems that a minor case of depression, or the ho-hums, is not that unusual this time of year.
What are some things you can do to feel better?
- Don't compare yourself to others: "They seem so happy and joyful, what is my problem?" There is no pressure on you to be festive just because it's "that time of the year."
- Expectation is the kiss of death. We create all this expectation about how the holiday should be, or have been in the past and we end up setting ourselves up for disappointments. Stay in the present and ditch the expectations.
- Delegate. Don't try and do it all yourself, and map out ways that others can help you. Be specific and stay practical.
- Go light on the alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant, so it's best to try and avoid over doing the drinking because it can actually push you further down into the bummed out abyss.
- Acknowledge your feelings. I'm not talking about giving into feeling sad or unexplainably overwhelmed. I'm simply saying don't try to stuff it down or eat the fact that you are a little sad.
- Enjoy yourself. Doing something that's fun and pleasurable to you is the number one way to combat depression.
- Don't over spend. Avoid adding more stress to your life by feeling the pressure to spend beyond your budget. Make the holidays about doing things with your friends and family vs. getting presents for everyone.
- Grab a moment to be alone. Just take a minute for some quiet time, take a few deep breathes, maybe meditate, or just go read an inspiring book for 10 minutes.
- Do something for someone else, like volunteer work. This will take your focus off of yourself and put it onto someone else. Not only does it feel good to do something nice for someone else, but it can give you a better perspective on your own life.
- Be thankful. Take a moment now and again to express gratitude for the things you are thankful for in your life. This can just be an easy way to remind yourself of all the great things you have in your life.
- Keep exercising. Endorphins make us feel good and it's just that simple.
- Say NO. You don't have to oblige yourself to every party and event you're invited too. Learn to say no, and minimize that stress.
- Watch out for the overload on unhealthy food. Eating junk can help accentuate junk emotions. What we put in our mouth is definitely connected to how we are feeling. Try to keep reaching for nutritional food that will serve your mind, body, and spirit.
- Sleep. When you can, try to get to bed early and use the holidays to catch up on some rest. Granted it's tough to do that and play Santa Claus, but get to bed early when you can.
Remember you're not alone, and it's OK to catch the blues. Try to keep focusing on the good, and I wish you and your family a JOYful holiday.
2007 Gabrielle Reece. All Rights Reserved.
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