The Holidays are my favorite time of the year. I love spending time with family and friends and watching the excitement and pleasure on my grandchildren’s faces. It fills me with a lot of joy and contentment.
The holidays, for me, are also a time of reflection. Sometimes those reflections make me feel a bit blue. Of loved ones who have passed on to the heavenly realms (I recently lost my dear brother-in-law, Rich Walsh), of friends who, for one reason another, have moved on, of goals not accomplished, of family that is far away, of situations I wished I had handled differently. If I’m not careful I can sink into a real funk! Does this happen to you too? If so, here are some tips that can help you stay balanced and cheerful during the holidays.
If you have a less-than-perfect family, or you’re lonely and missing your family, or if Christmas brings up sadness, or if others seem more cheerful than you, try to avoid comparing yourself to others. If truth be told, most people and families have issues and challenges at time. They just may not be the same as yours. Life will be great, for some of the time. At other times… well, let’s just say life can get challenging at times FOR EVERYONE! That’s life. Remember, it’s not what happens to you that is important, it’s how you handle the challenge that really counts.
So rather than play the comparison game, which is only painful and self-defeating, spend this holiday having lots of compassion for yourself and others. Surround yourself with people who make you feel good as they will help to elevate your mood. Enjoy the happiness of others, celebrate with them, and be very gentle and kind to yourself. Self-care is key during the Holidays.
For many people, December is the busiest time of the year. When work pressures pile up, the calendar gets full with social obligations, and there are way too many delicious temptations, this can lead to the derailment of our normal routines that normally keep us healthy and happy. Then, the yoga class, morning runs, exercise of any sort, healthy home-cooked meals, a meditation practice, etc., are usually the first thing to go. Eating poorly and drinking excessively can also exacerbate issues like stress, anxiety and depression.
Instead of slacking off, to the best of your ability focus on maintaining your healthy regular routines, especially exercise. Exercise will help you literally help you sweat out the blues and avoid that extra tire that builds up around the waistline this time of the year. Taking good care of yourself will help you with maintaining balance and cheer.
Yes, many people do have family and friends, but there are still many activities in which anyone in the community can participate. Find out what they are and make plans to attend, even if you go by yourself! There are lots of places you can go to hear music, enjoy the sights, or help those that are less fortunate. I bet if you ask around you will find someone who would love to accompany you. There are lots of people – more than you realize – who also want some companionship during the Holidays. Just get out of the house and find some way to join in the Holiday festivities.
If you tend to feel down when winter approaches, and those negative feelings don’t pass with the end of the holidays, you may have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
Some of us suffer when the days get shorter and bad weather is all too frequent. This lack of sunlight can actually trip some people into a depressive mood. People who think they are suffering from a case of holiday blues, may, in actuality, may be suffering from SAD, this form of depression that’s brought on by the change of seasons.