Tips to Beat the Holiday Blues

Horizons in Hemophilia, December 2011 

By Gail Day, LCSW, Social Work Supervisor

Everyone knows that the holidays can be a wonderful and joyous time of the year. We look forward to spending time with friends and family, going to holiday parties and events, or just enjoying all that the season has to offer.  Yet sometimes, the anticipation and excitement of the season turns into melancholy, anxiety and dread.  This is commonly called “holiday blues.”  These feelings are usually short term, typically lasting the length of the holiday season. But there are ways to avoid experiencing the holiday blues.  Here are some tips to take into consideration:

1. Decide on your priorities and stick to them.  Try organizing your time with what is most critical, spread out your “to do” list and make sure you give yourself enough time to accomplish each task.

2. Plan free or unstructured activities such as window shopping, walking in a park decorated for the holidays or driving through neighborhoods looking at holiday lights. The opportunities to relax and step back from your holiday schedule can be limitless.

3. Volunteer to serve the community. Go to a homeless shelter or local hospital to help those in need. It is rewarding to give of your time and it’s hard to be sad when you are lending a hand to help someone less fortunate.

4. Eat properly, exercise, and limit your alcohol intake.  During the holidays with all the holiday parties and activities you may find yourself overindulging in eating, drinking, and having little time to exercise. Sugary foods can affect your mood and add weight. Make sure you keep up with exercising at least 30 minutes a day and limit your cookie, cake and candy intake.  Alcohol is a depressant which can increase feelings of holiday blues so monitor your drinking to what is your usual limit. Just remember, everything in moderation.

5. Most of all, take time out to feel gratitude for the things you currently have and look at those who have been supportive of you over the years.  Be thankful of those people in your life.  Remember, it’s your choice to adjust your attitude about your circumstances.  If you condition yourself to look at the brighter side of life, it can only get brighter.

Happy Holidays!