Preventing the Holiday Blues
All month we’ve been discussing various aspects of depression. This week we’re going to talk about ways you can prevent seasonal depression, or at least make it a little more bearable.
With the holiday season fast approaching many people start to anticipate feeling blue or sad. In addition to the holiday blues the days are getting shorter and that means less light which can mean seasonal affective disorder or SAD.
If you suffer from SAD or the holiday blues there are some things you can start doing now to try to prevent the sadness from taking hold:
It’s Only for a Little While – Like all things, this too shall pass. The holidays will come to an end and the days will get longer. Hang in there.
Be Realistic – You don’t have to serve the perfect turkey for Thanksgiving. Don’t set your expectations so high that you can’t reach them. Most people don’t care if the turkey is dry, they just want to spend time with you.
Stay on Budget – Don’t buy more gifts than you can afford. If you feel you must bring a gift to every gathering you attend consider baking treats and bringing them. If you don’t have that kind of time don’t worry about it. Start a family gift exchange instead of giving gifts to everyone in the family. Create a budget early in the season and then stick to it. You’ll be happy you did come January.
Get Plenty of Rest – The holidays are busy and if you aren’t getting the rest you need you’ll be susceptible to colds and flu which can sideline any holiday celebration. Eat healthy, get plenty of rest and don’t over do it on the grown up beverages.
Set Aside Differences – If celebrating the holidays with the family is stressful because there are members you don’t see eye to eye with consider calling a truce with them just for the holidays. Accept family members differences and ask them to accept yours. Don’t stir the pot by picking arguments.
We can’t guarantee a Norman Rockwell holiday but if you follow these tips you might just make it through the holiday season in one piece.
Comments are closed.