The Holidays are Upon Us

The holidays are upon us.  This time of year can bring so much joy and good times, but the holidays can also prove to be the cause of great anxiety and depression.  According to some studies, there are several reasons for this increase in depression around the holidays.  Some factors include stressful work schedules, pressure to host family and friends, increased financial strain due to gift-giving, complex family dynamics, loneliness, and even the weather.  While we may not all experience the same feelings of dread or sadness during this time, you probably feel a little more pressure during the holidays.  If so, here are a few tips to combat those feelings.  

1. Take some time to reflect and be grateful.  I am well aware of how cliche this might sound, given the month, but taking time to think of everything I have–health, love of family and friends, all of my basic needs met–always puts life in perspective for me.  There are people experiencing war, famine, and great loss all across the world at this very moment, so I am grateful that that’s not the case for me.
2. Do some charity work.  This tip relates to the previous one in that service always puts life in perspective. I have found that when I am too focused on my own problems, serving others can help distract me and again remind me that my situation might not be as bad as I think it is.  Also, there is an innate reward to giving and serving others because it truly is better to give than receive.
3. Do not isolate yourself. I found the danger of isolation during holidays during 2020.  That was the first and hopefully the only time I am ever alone during the holidays.  I, unfortunately, got Covid that year about a week before Thanksgiving, and because both my parents have health issues, it was safer for me to avoid going home that year.  That was the loneliest time of my life.  During that time, my thoughts were all over the place. I can only imagine how depressing that might have been had I kept isolating myself.  The best thing we can do if we’re tempted to isolate ourselves during the holidays is to stay connected. If you happen to be far away from friends and family because of travel constraints, see tip number 2.  You might find and connect with some people who may later become your chosen family to help you stay connected for future holiday seasons.
4. My last tip is to set boundaries.  If you’re the designated party host this year, decide what you will and won’t tolerate ahead of time.  If you have strained relationships with family and friends, it is perfectly ok to dismiss yourself or end parties when your social battery has run low.  That doesn’t mean you have to be rude or unhospitable, but there is no rule saying people get to cause you stress in your own home, even if they are your family.  You can set specific times on the invites you send so that people aren’t surprised when you start packing up and shutting things down.

The holidays don’t have to be stressful.  You have the power to make or break your season.  Of course, there are many other things you can do, but I’ll be putting these tips to work in my own life.  If you have any other tips to help people avoid stress and depression during these times, share them with us on our socials.  We’d love to hear from you.