Do you find yourself dragging into the holiday season? Sickly after it? Here are some fast fixes for holiday stress—and a few longer-term solutions to stress-less life.
According to the National Mental Health Association, depression peaks during the holidays, affecting 17.6 million individuals. There are a lot of reasons why; do any of these trigger a sad reaction in your or someone you know?
- Over-scheduling and unrealistic expectations
- Travel and terrorist anxiety
- Painful relationships and reflections on past pain
- Loneliness and sorrow over unwelcome change
Combined, these factors can exacerbate holiday blues in even the cheeriest among us. Toss in bad weather, days so short you rarely enjoy the sunshine and overspending the holiday budget, and there you have it: depression.
This year, take pre-emptive strikes against a seasonal slump:
- Inoculate yourself mentally by thinking cheerfully. Look forward to telling—and listening to—funny stories as you get together with family and friends. Find opportunities to laugh, look on the bright side of life and make a conscious effort to banish the blues.
- Spend less, love more. Give small gifts of great meaning; spend time with people instead of shopping for expensive gifts; demonstrate love and a caring attitude with charitable contributions. You’ll decrease budget worries and you’ll also feel good about yourself and what you can do to help others.
- Take good care of your body. Cut down on caffeine, go light on alcohol, get as much rest as you can and force yourself to get plenty of exercise. Prepare not to overeat: Make healthy choices, and savor every small bite of each favorite indulgence. No seconds. Never thirds.
- Coddle yourself a bit. Whatever soothes your soul will help you face stress. Make time to relax with gentle music, candlelight, a heartwarming book, a warm bath, a quick visit with a friend or just sitting still and meditating for a minute or two between tasks.
- Celebrate selectively. You can’t do it all. Sit down with your family and choose those traditions that mean the most to all of you. Plan those activities this year and agree to revisit your plans next year.
- Don’t do it alone. Once you’ve decided which traditions are most important this year, split the work among you. Make lists, check them twice and assign tasks appropriate to every family member. That way, you won’t be stuck with all the work. And everyone will feel as if they are truly a part of the activities.
- Get help. If you know that this year’s holidays will be full of sorrow, ask someone to help you make a change. Turn to a good friend or a professional counselor; seek out help at work, in church or through your family doctor. Find the support you need to discover new joy in the season.
After the holidays, allow time for your body and mind to recuperate. As your body returns to its preholiday-stress stage, take stock of the season. Note what worked and what didn’t; contemplate changes for next year. And smile: Because this year’s success is part of your history, and next year’s fun is your future’s promise. All that time in between? They call it life. A truly successful holiday season inspires you to live it to the fullest.
More help for the holidays from ISU Extension: