5 Ways to Beat the Holiday Blues
November 29, 2009
It’s hard to be happy if you have always thought of the holidays as a time to give and get “Stuff” and you are tight on cash.
What can you do to manage and stay positive over the Holidays?
Five Ways to Boost your Mood
1. Be Thankful
- Every morning I do my gratitudes before getting out of bed. What are ten things you are happy about? Look around, there must be something you can be grateful for. If you can’t find ten, look for five and go from there.
- List your gratitudes and post them somewhere. Your bathroom mirror is good. The refrigerator is even better.
2. Have a Plan
- What are three things you need/want to get done this month? Keep the list short. If/when you finish this list, you can always make another.
- Having a plan focuses your attention on things you can do. That keeps you from lollygaggin’ around in a pity party. It’s amazing what ACTION can do to our mood. The act of doing something purposefully quickly takes us away from self-imposed dread.
The act of doing something purposefully quickly takes us away from self-imposed dread.
- Even if you don’t want to go all out, plan for a small celebration of life at the holidays – it doesn’t have to be a debt-inducing orgy for you. Put up a few decorations: a creche, a minorah, a kinara, a small altar of thanks. Choose not to have a consumer holiday. Honor the rich and deep spiritual tradition the holidays represent. It’s good for the soul.
3. Exercise
- Get thee up off the couch, turn off the TV, and get out of the house. Go to a gym, go for a walk, hike that trail, ride that bicycle.
- Part of your depression may be chemical. Exercise routs those toxins out of your system and fills you with a wonderful home-made brew called endorphins. You‘ll feel better. I promise. The hardest part is getting up and getting out there.
4. Give YOU
- Right now people are depressed because “money is tight”. We forget we are the best gift. Presents are never a good substitute for Presence.
Presents are never a good substitute for Presence.
- Make a coupon book for chores your spouse wishes you’d do. Or make one for a parent or friend who can’t get out and do things for themselves.
- Is there a shelter or mission that needs you? Volunteer your time with people who have much less than you. Join a group collecting clothing for the needy. Give of yourself. Money can’t buy the sense of worth you’ll feel.
5. Don’t
- Don’t over spend
- Don’t overeat
- Don’t think you have to meet ANYONE’s expectations
- Don’t get yer undies in a twist about what others are doing, what they have, what their house looks like, what kind of car they drive (they are just in more debt than YOU are in most cases!) You are YOU. And that’s just fine.
- Don’t spend more time at that party than you absolutely have to
- Don’t drink when you are depressed. Alcohol makes things worse, and the sheriff is out there waitin’ for ya.
- Most importantly: Don’t beat yourself up. Take a deep breath and go back to #1. There are things in this world you can be grateful for. Find them and celebrate them.
Everyone has “dark nights of the soul.” Everyone battles sadness and depression from time to time. You are not alone. If things get worse, get help. No shame in asking for help. When you let others know you need them, you are giving THEM a gift – the gift of purpose.
and — Have a happy holiday anyway.
Beth
© 2009 Beth Terry Seminars, Inc.
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4 Comments
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I’ll be sure to link to this post after I post my holiday stress-busters this week. I especially like the “Give YOU” challenge. I’m limiting my holiday expenses this year, and I sure could use more gifts of “people time” in 2010. I don’t mean just seeing people at our regular meetings and such. I mean, one-on-one time. I can use the gift of presence and can stand to “gift” it as well.
Jackie – thanks! Looking forward to your post. On the one hand, for the country, I hope everyone doesn’t stop buying all together. That would not be good for retailers or small business in general. But the consumerism that takes away the specialness of the season could stand a little slowdown. And yes to the gifts of people. I fear our online lives have put our in person lives in the back seat!
Hi Beth!
Very worthwhile reading for this time of year. It’s been a challenging one for many but there’s no doubt in my mind that this economy/recession will not get the best of me! Merry Christmas, dear friend.
Thanks Cecilia! Great to hear from you! I hope your Christmas Wedding Season goes fabulous! Can’t wait to visit your store next time I’m ‘home’. Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2010! (Can you BELIEVE we are saying that! Good heavens!)