Beating the Holiday "Blues"

Submitted by the View Committee

It's holiday time! The 5 week period from Thanksgiving to New Years should be a time of happiness and harmony, yet often the anticipation and excitement can turn into feelings of depression - commonly known as the "Holiday Blues".  Symptoms can include uneasiness, anxiety, sadness, headaches and intestinal issues.
Often time these feelings are a result of common holiday activities.  Overeating, overdrinking, stressful events and fatigue are often a result of the demands of shopping, travel, cooking, houseguests,  parties and financial strain. Here are some tools to help you get through the holiday season happily and to prevent problems and misery.
1. Be Reasonable with your schedule - Do not overbook or over promise yourself and your time. Delegate the chores and responsibilities. Make a plan and organize what to do, plan or devote time to and let go of the less important activities and details.
2.  Do an Emotion Check-up - Remember that the holidays do not automatically take away feelings of sadness, frustration, anger, loneliness and fear. Recognize and confront how you are feeling and make the conscious decision to change and act accordingly. If you are sad, and you attend a party in this frame of mind, you will be miserable and make the people around you uncomfortable which will make you feel even worse.  Decide to put the sadness away.
3. Leave your grievances for another day - Resentments related to past occurrences or slights should be left to be discussed at another time.  Do not unburden yourself or let anyone else unburden on you - Simply state that this is not the time or place and excuse yourself if necessary.
4. Live in the Moment - Don't expect the holidays to be the same as when you were a child or even last year.  Embrace change!
5.Volunteer - If you are under-scheduled or feeling alone - volunteer to help the under privileged. Give and you will receive.
6. Be Reasonable with Food and Drink - If you drink, do not over indulge. If you are feeling depressed, stay away from drinking all together as alcohol is a depressant. Practice restraint in overeating or adding unusual foods to your diet because this adds to the symptoms of the “blues”.
7. Don’t be afraid to take a break - If your home is crowded with house guests - find a place to be alone and unwind.
If you find yourself feeling the "Holiday Blues" - stand back, take a deep breath and remember the choice of how you feel is yours. You can decide whether to face each day with hope or with fear.  Make the commitment to take control and have a better holiday.