S.A.D
As daylight diminishes and the weather causes many of us to spend more time indoors, many people are affected by a type of depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder. The holiday blues are real. Despite the general atmosphere of joyousness and celebration, many people experience the holidays as a time to “get through” rather than a time to enjoy. Family dynamics, full event calendars, decorating and the pressure to “be merry” can make the holiday season particularly stressful. Sadness often creeps in. But with some practical tips, you can minimize the stress that accompanies the holidays. You may even end up enjoying the holidays more than you thought you would.
My 5 tips to stay calm during the holidays.
1. FIND YOUR FOCUS
The quickest way for me to go bonkers is to get off track with my routine. To avoid chaos, try to stick to a schedule so that your focus is only on one task at a time. Plan time for work, rest, exercising, creative activities, and family time. Sticking to a schedule can help manage the stress in your life by giving yourself a time and place to handle certain things.
Each morning, plan out your day so you know exactly what you need to get done, places you need to go, things you need to buy, and family that you want to spend time with. During the holiday season, it can be extremely easy to lose focus on the true meaning of the holiday season with all the parties, family gatherings, and gift-giving. But remember the things that truly matter are your friends, family, food, kindness, and love.
By taking part in these few simple steps, you can end this year and begin the new year on a strong note – feeling calm, happy and healthy.
2. POWER DOWN
It’s tough to do, and I know I have said this before but disconnecting from social media, even for a little bit, can not only help minimize thoughts of comparison but can also free up real-life time for the ones you love.
When you do find yourself going down a dark tunnel, otherwise known as your Instagram feed, it can be useful to remember that most people’s feeds are merely highlights of their lives, sometimes filled with fake smiles and photo editing, rather than documentaries of what’s really going on behind the scenes.
Try turning off your phone and keeping it out of sight when spending time with family, it will do wonders. It can help you stay present at holiday parties and get-togethers. Powering down your devices an hour or more before bedtime may also help you sleep better.
3. TAKE A WALK
Fingers crossed that we'll see some sunshine this December. A winter walk is not only an easy source of exercise when your schedule seems packed, but sunlight offers a feel-good burst of serotonin and can help fight seasonal affective disorder. Also the rhythm and repetition of walking has a tranquilizing effect, decreasing anxiety and improving sleep.
4. EXPECTATIONS
Sometimes, the stress hits just after the holidays come to a close. You looked forward to spending time with family; you fantasized about impressing your in-laws with a perfect turkey; you romanticized about sitting next to your soul mate on the flight home. Whatever the fantasy or expectation, it doesn’t come true. The reality was the complete opposite. Television commercials pluck at our heartstrings and trigger nostalgia. This is deliberate, and most of us fall for it. Even if we’re careful not to make emotional purchases, we may subconsciously buy into the idea of what the holidays “should” look like. We see the happy families sharing buttered rolls and buying each other lavish gifts. And when our real-life families bring their usual dysfunctions to dinner, or our children fight on Christmas morning, we may experience it as a personal failure. Unrealistic expectations of others and of ourselves increase holiday stress and can lead to symptoms of anxiety and depression.
5. YOU'RE NOT ALONE
Even though it might feel like yours is the only family on Earth who goes off the deep end during the holidays, it may help to remember that that’s definitely not true. Everyone feels the overwhelming feeling of the holiday season. As long as you make time for yourself, stick to the same routine as usual and remember that being "merry" doesn't have to be 24/7. If someone didn't feel even a little stress in December, I would think that they weren't human.
